Putin Ousts Longtime Ally Shoigu, Appoints Belousov as Defence Minister

The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to replace his longtime confidant Sergei Shoigu as the country's defence minister. 

Shoigu, who has served in the role since 2012, will be appointed as the secretary of Russia's Security Council. 

Papers released by the upper chamber of the Russian parliament suggest that Shoigu will be succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.

Shoigu is a key figure in Russia's conflict with Ukraine, and his influence extends beyond military matters. President Putin aims to have him take over from Nikolai Patrushev as head of the influential Security Council, although Patrushev's new designation is unknown at this time.

Shoigu's appointment as defence minister was met with some discontent among military officials, as he lacked a military background. However, his rise to prominence began in the 1990s as the head of the emergencies and disaster relief ministry.

Despite his lengthy tenure as defence minister, Shoigu's leadership during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago was reportedly subject to scrutiny. An open dispute with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, further amplified Shoigu's challenges, with Prigozhin accusing him of incompetence in managing the war effort.

The potential replacement of Shoigu with Belousov, who has limited military experience and is an economist by profession, indicates a strategic shift by President Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that innovation is key for the defence minister role, and that current military spending is reminiscent of the Soviet era.

Reports suggest that Shoigu's replacement reflects his diminishing influence amid military setbacks in Ukraine. The appointment of an economist also highlights the evolving priorities of the Kremlin, as the economy becomes increasingly intertwined with the war effort.

Belousov, who has a martial arts background and is aligned with the Russian Orthodox Church, previously worked as an aide to President Putin before assuming government roles. While Putin begins his fifth presidential term, continuity remains evident in cabinet positions, with veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov keeping his post.