Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, previously accused by the team of the late Alexei Navalny of living a lavish lifestyle, is now suspected of having taken bribes.

Russian investigative officials have announced the arrest of the deputy defense minister on suspicion of bribery, amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Timur Ivanov, who has held the position for eight years, was taken into custody, and an investigation into his conduct is underway, according to the Investigative Committee's statement on Telegram.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a report on Ivanov's arrest had been submitted to President Vladimir Putin, adding that Ivanov had been informed of the impending arrest beforehand.

Reports suggest that Ivanov is accused of accepting a bribe worth at least 1 million roubles ($10,730, €10,025) and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, as per Russian news agency TASS.

The 48-year-old Ivanov is one of Russia's 12 deputy defense ministers, having assumed the post in 2016. He was responsible for overseeing property management, housing, medical support for the military, as well as the construction and reconstruction of facilities, according to the Russian Defense Ministry website.

Reports indicate that Ivanov was also in charge of some construction projects in Mariupol, a port city in Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk region. Mariupol was heavily bombarded and occupied by Russian forces early on following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In the same year, the late Alexei Navalny's team, Russia's most prominent opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner, alleged that Ivanov and his family were living an extravagant life filled with luxurious trips abroad, lavish parties, and elite real estate.

Ivanov faced sanctions from both the US and the EU in 2022. Russian media reports suggest that he is likely the highest-ranking official to face such charges since the war began.