Vladimir Arsenyev

Vladimir Arsenyev is a 75-year-old Russian entrepreneur and scientist who was the director of the Central Scientific Research Institute Volna, involved in the military-industrial complex. His recent act of self-immolation on Red Square, a poignant protest against the pressures faced by military contractors during the ongoing war in Ukraine, drew attention to the harsh realities and expectations placed on defense industry leaders in Russia, many of whom are currently imprisoned or on trial for failing to meet government demands amid a struggling economy.