Putin reshuffles military command, signalling deep reforms ahead
Vladimir Putin recently extended his rule until 2030, and now he is making changes in the military. He has just moved Sergei Shoigu, the Minister of Defense since 2012, to the position of head of Russia's Security Council. What does this decision mean for the Russian military? Significant changes are on the horizon.
Bloomberg, citing sources, explained why Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Andrey Belousov as the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and trusted Sergei Shoigu was moved behind the scenes.
According to three agency sources, Putin reassigned him as the secretary of the Security Council because "he lost patience with the Defence Ministry's ability to conduct a war amidst pervasive corruption." In this area, the Russian president is demanding changes to take place.
What did Vladimir Putin mean? The decision to change the leadership of Russia's Ministry of Defense could also have been influenced by the revolt of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, when the rebels accused Sergei Shoigu of inadequate supply of units, corruption, and shortages, leading to significant failures on the battlefield for Russia.
Andrei Belousov, 65, was reportedly surprised when Vladimir Putin asked him to become head of the Ministry of National Defense. However, he agreed without hesitation because he sees Putin as a global figure who is changing world history. In other words, he couldn't say no.
The biggest change in the Russian army in 12 years
As the Associated Press reported, Sergei Shoigu's fate as Minister of Defense in the new government was uncertain, in part because of corruption scandals involving ministry officials. Deputy Minister of Defense Timur Ivanov was arrested at the end of April.
He is suspected of accepting a huge bribe, facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Then, the British Ministry of Defense announced that the investigation into Timur Ivanov likely involved his superior, the first Deputy Minister of Defense Ruslan Tsalikov. Sergei Shoigu faced criticism for his conduct during the war in Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin had expected tremendous success. May his successor face the same problems.
