Court arrests Deputy Head of Uralvagonzavod in embezzlement case involving 50 million rubles in state defense order

Moscow's Basmanny Court has remanded Dmitry Semizorov, Deputy General Director for Special Equipment at the Uralvagonzavod concern, into custody until July 26. According to RBC, citing sources, the top manager is accused of large-scale embezzlement. According to the investigation, violations occurred during the supply of climate control equipment when Semizorov headed TsNIITOCHMASH.

The criminal case was initiated on October 28, 2025, and concerns a 2016 contract. As RBC sources found out, TsNIITOCHMASH concluded an agreement with OOO "FSK Progress" for the supply of equipment worth 132.1 million rubles, while the actual price of the equipment was about 78 million rubles. The difference, exceeding 50 million rubles, was allegedly stolen and cashed out by the participants in the scheme, according to the investigation. Two other defendants in the case testified against Semizorov: one is under certain restrictions, and the other is under house arrest.

The defense insisted on a milder preventive measure, citing the accused's health condition and his state awards, including the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of Courage, and the Medal "For Valour." The prosecutor's office did not support the arrest, indicating that the crime was non-violent and the alleged events date back to 2016. The Uralvagonzavod concern submitted a positive character reference for Semizorov to the court, noting that his absence could negatively affect the fulfillment of the state defense order.

Nevertheless, the court granted the investigation's request, which feared pressure on witnesses and attempts to abscond. Earlier, in April 2026, Moscow's Meshchansky Court arrested Viktor Krasnov, Deputy General Director of "RZD-stroy," in a case involving the embezzlement of over 1.5 billion rubles during bridge construction. In March, the FSB detained the heads of two firms who had stolen over 460 million rubles from defense enterprises.

TsNIITOCHMASH, which Semizorov headed from 2012 to 2018, is one of the key enterprises of the Russian defense industry, specializing in the development of small arms and ammunition. The institute was established in 1944 in Klimovsk, Moscow Oblast, and is part of the Rostec state corporation. RBC sent a request to the press services of Rostec and Uralvagonzavod; a response has not yet been received.