‘The goal is not peace’: What’s behind Putin’s wartime Russia reshuffle?
Al Jazeera
President’s surprise reshuffle to see deputy prime minister and economist Andrei Belousov seize Shoigu’s defence minister’s role.
In a major reshuffle of his cabinet, President Vladimir Putin is set to relieve Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister of 12 years, of his post and appoint him as secretary of the Security Council, a position previously held by Nikolai Patrushev since 2008.
The move has prompted speculation among Kremlin watchers, intrigued by what could have led to the surprise move, and what it means for Shoigu, Patrushev and Andrei Belousov, the deputy prime minister and economist set to become Russia’s new defence minister.
Shoigu is known as a Putin loyalist, the pair having been photographed on many a manly fishing expedition through the depths of Siberia together, and has led the Russian armed forces throughout their invasion of Ukraine.
Belousov’s appointment is expected to be confirmed by the Federation Council this week.
“Today, the winner on the battlefield is the one who is more open to innovation, more open to implementation as quickly as possible,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press. “It is natural that at the current stage the president decided that the Ministry of Defence should be headed by a civilian.”
