Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a significant cabinet reshuffle, proposing to remove Sergei Shoigu as defence minister and reappoint him as secretary of the Security Council. Putin has proposed Andrey Belousov, an economics specialist and former deputy prime minister, to take over as the new defence minister. This move comes as Putin begins his fifth term in office, with the entire cabinet resigning after his inauguration.
Shoigu, who has served as defence minister since 2012, may face dismissal following the arrest of his deputy Timur Ivanov on bribery charges. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin believes the defence ministry should be open to innovation and cutting-edge ideas, leading to the decision to appoint a civilian like Belousov to the position.
The reshuffle comes amid renewed conflict in northeastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have launched a ground offensive targeting towns and villages with artillery and mortar shelling. The battles have forced Ukrainian units to withdraw as Russian forces seize more territory along the border.
Putin’s reelection in March with 87 percent of the vote has been questioned by analysts due to the exclusion of candidates opposed to the war in Ukraine by the Central Election Commission. The ongoing conflict and displacement of civilians in Ukraine underscore the significance of Putin’s cabinet changes and the implications for Russian military strategy moving forward.
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