Putin Appoints New Russian Defence Minister to Replace Long-Time Official Sergei Shoigu

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, on Sunday. Shoigu, who had faced an attempted coup by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin last year, is being moved to the Russian Security Council. Putin’s decision to replace Shoigu with economist Andrei Belousov may indicate dissatisfaction with the progress of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the impact on Russia’s economy. The move to appoint an economist as the new military leader suggests a focus on innovation and economic competitiveness. Russian state media suggests further leadership changes in the military, including potentially replacing Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff. Shoigu has faced criticism over Russia’s military failures in Ukraine, which led to a rebellion by Prigozhin and his Wagner Group. Prigozhin blamed Shoigu for the failures and demanded his removal, but the rebellion failed and Prigozhin died in a plane crash shortly after.