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Putin Replaces Defense Minister Shoigu with Economist Belousov Amid Ukraine War

May 12, 2024, 09:52 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated a significant reshuffle in his cabinet, affecting key positions in the defense and security sectors. Sergei Shoigu, the long-serving Defense Minister, has been unexpectedly replaced by Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister specializing in economics, who has no prior military experience. Shoigu will now serve as the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, taking over from Nikolai Patrushev. This reshuffle reflects a strategic shift as Russia continues its military operations more than two years into the Ukraine war.