Putin Appoints Economist Belousov as Defense Minister, Shoigu Heads Security Council

May 13, 2024, 05:44 AM

In a significant reshuffle of Russia's top leadership, President Vladimir Putin has replaced long-serving Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with Andrey Belousov, a civilian economist formerly serving as Deputy Prime Minister. This move, described as unexpected, marks a major change in the military leadership more than two years into the Ukraine war. Belousov, known for his economic expertise, is expected to bring a new focus on integrating economic strategies with military operations. Concurrently, Shoigu has been appointed as the head of the Security Council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who is anticipated to receive a new role soon. This reshuffle comes amid ongoing advances by Russian forces in Ukraine and is seen as a strategic pivot to enhance Russia's war effort through economic measures.