CNN
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister and close ally Sergei Shoigu with a civilian economist, more than two years after Russia's war with Ukraine soared defense spending. This is a major personnel change in the military leadership.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Sunday that Andrei Belousov, a civilian and economics expert and former first deputy prime minister, has been appointed to the top defense post.
Peskov said that Shoigu had been “removed” from his post by presidential decree, but that he had been “transferred to another position” in place of former FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev, who would serve as secretary of the Russian Security Council and continue to influence the Putin regime. He said he would continue to hold it.
According to Peskov, Shoigu will also become a deputy member of Russia's Military-Industrial Commission when Putin begins his fifth term as president.
The realignment comes as Russia launches its most serious cross-border ground offensive since Ukraine reoccupied the northern region of Kharkiv in late summer 2022. It also came after months of intensified Russian air attacks on the city of Kharkiv. In Donetsk, in the east, there has been a sharp advance with gradual but significant progress.
Shoigu led the country's defense ministry for 12 years and led the country's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces initially caught Kiev by surprise, but were quickly repulsed, exposing the weaknesses of Moscow's corrupt military and its willingness to send in poorly trained troops. And both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries have equipped their soldiers with what they call “meat grinders.”
His critics frequently describe Mr. Shoigu as distant from the realities of the conflict. His strongest critic was the late Wagner leader Evgeny Prigozhin, who led a failed revolt last year that led to his death in a plane crash a few weeks later, as the Ministry of Defense depleted the resources of fighters and bureaucratic incompetence. criticized.
Increasing military spending and the need for “innovation”
Peskov told a news conference that Belousov was chosen by Putin because of the need for “innovation” and highlighted the ministry's increased budget, which he said was approaching levels last seen during the Cold War.
“In today's battlefield, those who are more open to innovation will win,” Peskov said. “Therefore, it is natural that at this stage the president has decided that the Russian Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian.”
Referring to the Ukraine war, Foreign Minister Peskov said: “Due to the well-known geopolitical situation, we are gradually approaching the situation in the mid-1980s, when the share of security bloc spending in the economy was 7.4%.” said. It is not important, but it is very important,” Peskov said.
He said the budget is currently equivalent to 6.7% of GDP.
Mr. Peskov highlighted Mr. Belousov's previous leadership experience and economic background.
“He is not just a private citizen, but a very successful head of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, a long-time advisor to the president on economic issues, and in the previous administration he was also the first deputy chairman of the government.” Cabinet,” Peskov said.
Peskov added that the appointment does not signal a change in Russia's current military structure.
“With regard to the military element, this appointment in no way changes the current coordinate system. The military element has always been the prerogative of the Chief of Staff. [Valery Gerasimov]He plans to continue his activities in the future. No changes are planned in this regard at this time.”
In his new role, Shoigu will oversee Russia's military-industrial complex, Peskov said.
“He is deeply immersed in this work and is well aware of the pace of production of military industry products in certain companies and frequently visits these companies,” he said.
The news comes after Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, one of Mr. Shoigu's top aides, revealed last month that he was accused of bribery in the country's highest-profile corruption scandal since President Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. This follows an indictment on charges of receiving.
Ivanov is accused of accepting a bribe of 1 million rubles (at least $10,800), Russian state media TASS reported.
Former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told CNN in an interview on Sunday that Putin's removal was an “important” and “interesting move.”
“The bigger argument coming out of Moscow right now is that Russia is moving towards a war economy,” he said. “They're ready for battle.”
“One of the disappointing things about Shoigu's tenure, at least when I was at the Pentagon, is that the Russian military has professionalized and modernized its equipment, its doctrine, its training methods, its fighting methods, all of it,” Esper said. That's what I was thinking.” And we have never actually seen anything like that on the battlefield. ”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
