Russian President Putin's closest aides under spotlight after invasion of Ukraine
India Today
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has landed President Vladimir Putin's closest aides under the spotlight. Here's all you need to know about them.
Two days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, a video of President Vladimir Putin started doing the rounds on social media. In the video, Putin was seen asking Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergey Naryshkin to "speak plainly" about his stand on recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.
Despite the fact that Naryshkin is counted among his closest aides, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not shy away from publicly embarrassing one of his top-ranking officials.
Another picture going viral on social media shows Putin sitting at a distance from Russia's Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu and others during a meeting.
This has led to speculation about differences of opinion between the Russian President and his top officials. Many say Putin did not want any ambiguity on the subject of Ukraine within his inner circle.
These officials have landed under the spotlight following the invasion of Ukraine, which is why it is important to know more about them.
Appointed the Minister of Defence in 2012, Sergey Shoigu was at the helm when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. A long-time confidante of Putin, many say Shoigu accompanies the Russian President on hunting trips.
Soon after Russian forces started pouring into Ukraine on February 24, it was Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu who put Russia's "nuclear deterrent forces on high alert" at the direction of President Vladimir Putin.
