Prez Putin in Surprise Move Replaces His Defence Minister

After taking charge again, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise move by appointing a civilian Andrei Belousov as Russia’s new defence minister.

Belousov, a former deputy prime minister specialises in economics. He will now look after the Ukraine war.

Putin made Sergei Shoigu, defence minister of Russia since 2012, the new secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, replacing incumbent Nikolai Patrushev. Shoigu will also take up responsibilities for the military-industrial complex, the Kremlin announced on Sunday.

The changes will be certainly approved by parliamentarians. It is a major decision by Putin since Russia’s Ukraine invasion in February 2022.