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Vladimir Arsenyev, head of Moscow's Volna Central Scientific Research Institute, self-immolated in Red Square on July 26, 2024, in protest of overwhelming pressure from bankruptcy threats due to production delays linked to defense contracts amid the Ukraine conflict. His actions highlighted the severe challenges facing Russian defense manufacturers, who are under threat of criminal charges for failing to meet contract obligations, despite an overall increase in military output. Arsenyev's protest underscores the ongoing inefficiencies and corruption plaguing the sector.