The Low-Down: Russia's Kursk Governor Arrested For Embezzling As Anti-Tank Defenses Fail

The anti-tank dragons' teeth began to crumble in the snow and rain - hardly unusual weather in the country - because contractors used substandard cement so that the governor and his cronies could pocket the difference in cost.

Russian is nothing if not consistent when it comes to corruption. JL

Isabel van Brugen reports in Newsweek:

Alexei Smirnov, former governor of Russia's Kursk region, was arrested on charges of embezzling millions of rubles for anti-tank defenses that failed due to substandard construction. He was arrested in Moscow, alongside his deputy Alexei Dedov. They are accused of embezzling one billion rubles (more than $12 million) from a budget to fund the construction of anti-tank defenses in the region. Contractors used lower-grade M200 cement reserved for domestic projects rather than the M500-grade for industrial construction. The "dragon's teeth" barriers disintegrated under harsh weather like rain and snow, and failed to withstand Ukrainian armored vehicles during Kyiv's offensive.
Alexei Smirnov, former governor of Russia's Kursk region, was arrested Wednesday on charges of embezzling millions of rubles earmarked for anti-tank defenses that reportedly failed due to substandard construction.
Russia constructed anti-tank concrete pyramids, known as "dragon's teeth," in the Kursk region, which came under a Ukrainian incursion in August 2024.
Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on corruption and fraud, leading to the arrest of numerous high-ranking officials and prominent figures, including former Deputy Defense Ministers Timur Ivanov and Dmitry Bulgakov, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army in southern Ukraine.

What Are 'Dragon's Teeth'?
Dragon's teeth are fortification obstacles made of reinforced concrete, typically shaped like large pyramids or truncated cones, and are designed to slow or block the advance of tanks and other armored vehicles. They are often arranged in multiple staggered rows and embedded into the ground, sometimes accompanied by trenches or additional barriers to enhance their effectiveness.
First deployed on a large scale during World War II, particularly as part of Germany's Siegfried Line (or Westwall), dragon's teeth became a symbol of defensive military engineering. Their primary purpose was to channel enemy vehicles into kill zones or delay an advance long enough for defending forces to respond with artillery or air support.
While modern military vehicles have become more mobile and powerful, dragon's teeth and similar anti-tank defenses continue to be used in contemporary conflict zones, including in Ukraine. In the current war, Russian forces have installed these defenses along stretches of territory near the Ukrainian border and in occupied areas, aiming to slow potential armored counteroffensives. However, the effectiveness of such fortifications depends heavily on materials used, construction quality, and integration with other defensive systems.
What To Know
The former governor of Russia's Kursk region served from May to December 2024 — a turbulent period marked by a major cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces, which has since been largely repelled.

He was arrested in Moscow on Wednesday, alongside his deputy Alexei Dedov. They are accused of embezzling at least one billion rubles (more than $12 million) from a budget intended to fund the construction of anti-tank defenses in the region.
According to local reports, contractors used lower-grade M200 cement—typically reserved for domestic projects—rather than M500-grade material intended for industrial construction.
As a result, the "dragon's teeth" anti-tank barriers quickly disintegrated under harsh weather conditions like rain and snow, and failed to withstand the advance of Ukrainian armored vehicles during Kyiv's offensive.

Smirnov now faces charges of fraud committed as part of an organized group while abusing his official position.
It's unclear how much was allocated to the barriers in the Kursk region, but similar defensive fortifications in the neighboring Belgorod region are estimated to have cost Moscow roughly $100 million.
The Moscow Times reported that Smirnov appeared to fall foul of Putin shortly after the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk began. The president publicly cut him off mid-sentence as they discussed Ukraine's advances in the region. Putin then said he'd been unsuccessful in "crisis management" when he left his post in December.
What People Are Saying
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said the men "led members of an organized group and, together with the management of the Kursk Region Development Corporation, organized the theft of public funds."