Putin replaces defense minister
Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister Sergei Shoigu with a civilian, Andrey Belousov, citing the country’s increasing military spending and the need for “innovation.”
Shoigu has been removed from his position as Minister of Defense by presidential decree and appointed Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov stated that Shoigu would also become Putin’s deputy in Russia’s Military-Industrial Commission, while Nikolai Patrushev, the former Secretary of the Security Council, would move to another role.
Belousov, a civilian who previously served as first deputy prime minister, was chosen by Putin due to a need for “innovation,” Peskov said. He emphasized the rising budget of the ministry, reaching levels last seen during the Cold War.
Peskov explained during a press call, “Today on the battlefield, the winner is the one who is more open to innovation. Therefore, it is natural that at the current stage, the president decided that the Russian Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian.”
Regarding the military budget, Peskov noted that it currently amounts to 6.7% of GDP, approaching the 7.4% seen in the mid-80s due to “well-known geopolitical circumstances.”
He highlighted Belousov’s previous leadership roles and economic background, stating, “This is not just a civilian, but a person who very successfully headed the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, for a long time he was aide to the president on economic issues, and was also the first deputy chairman of the government in the previous cabinet of ministers.”
Peskov clarified that the appointment of Belousov doesn’t imply a change in Russia’s military system, stating, “As for the military component, this appointment will in no way change the current coordinate systems.”
In his new role, Shoigu will oversee Russia’s military industrial complex, according to Peskov.
The news comes after the recent arrest of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of accepting a bribe. Peskov stated, “He is deeply immersed in this work, he knows very well the pace of production of military-industrial products at specific enterprises and often visits these enterprises.”
Ivanov has been accused of accepting a bribe of 1 million rubles (at least $10,800).
Shoigu has also faced criticism for his handling of the invasion of Ukraine, particularly from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Wagner, in the months before his death last year.
