In a major reshuffle of Russia's military leadership, President Vladimir Putin has replaced long-time Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with civilian economist Andrey Belousov, marking a significant shift in the Kremlin's approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The move, announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Sunday, comes amid speculation about infighting at the highest levels of power and a recent high-profile corruption scandal involving one of Shoigu's protégés.
Shoigu, who has led the Russian Defense Ministry for 12 years and oversaw the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, will now assume the role of secretary of Russia's Security Council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev, a former head of the Federal Security Service (FSB). Additionally, Shoigu will become the deputy in Russia's Military-Industrial Commission, where he is expected to oversee the country's military-industrial complex.
The timing of Shoigu's exit is notable, as it follows several significant advances by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, including the most serious cross-border ground assault since the recapture of the Kharkiv region by Ukrainian forces in late 2022. Despite facing criticism for his remote and out-of-touch leadership style, particularly from the late Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Shoigu has remained a popular politician in Russia, known for his helpful image cultivated during his two decades as the minister of emergency situations.
Belousov's appointment as the new defense minister suggests that Russia's strategy will continue to focus on outgunning Ukraine, with an emphasis on innovation and efficiency. Peskov highlighted Belousov's previous leadership experience and economic background, stating that "today on the battlefield, the winner is the one who is more open to innovation." The Kremlin spokesperson also noted that Russia's defense spending is approaching levels last seen during the Cold War, currently amounting to 6.7% of the country's GDP.
Former US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper described the reshuffle as an "important" and "interesting move," suggesting that Russia is moving towards a war economy and adopting a war footing. Esper also expressed disappointment in the Russian army's performance under Shoigu's tenure, noting that despite expectations of professionalization and modernization, these improvements have not been evident on the battlefield.
The reshuffle comes on the heels of the arrest of Timur Ivanov, one of Shoigu's close allies and a former deputy defense minister, who was charged with accepting a bribe of at least 1 million rubles (approximately $10,800) in the country's highest-profile corruption scandal since the start of the Ukraine invasion.
Tatiana Stanovaya, a political analyst and founder of R.Politik, suggests that the Security Council is becoming a "reservoir for Putin's 'former' key figures" who cannot be let go but have no other place to be housed. She likens Shoigu's move to the Security Council to the treatment of former President Dmitry Medvedev in January 2020, viewing it as a way to remove Shoigu from the game without causing offense, as it is safer for Putin himself.
