In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who had held the position since 2012. This change comes shortly after the beginning of Putin’s fifth presidential term and over two years after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Kremlin announced that Andrey Belusov will be taking over as the new defense minister, replacing Shoigu. Shoigu, meanwhile, has been appointed Secretary of the Security Council, a position previously held by Nikolay Patrushev before his own dismissal.
Despite the shift in the defense ministry, Putin has proposed to keep Sergey Lavrov in his current role as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This unexpected shake-up in the Russian government has left many wondering about the motivations behind Putin’s decision and what impact it may have on future policies.