Putin Shakes Up Military Leadership, Nominates Civilian Economist As Defence Minister: Here's Why

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprising move by nominating civilian Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister with a background in economics, as the new defence minister, replacing his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu.

Putin's plan includes appointing Shoigu as the secretary of Russia's influential Security Council, taking over from Nikolai Patrushev, and entrusting him with overseeing the military-industrial complex, as per a report by NDTV.

These changes are expected to be approved by parliament and mark the most significant shake-up in Russia's military leadership since the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022.

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, Russia's current situation mirrors that of the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s, underscoring the importance of aligning spending effectively.

Peskov further stressed the need for a civilian with an economic background in the defence ministry to ensure efficient use of funds.

This change also comes amid allegations of corruption within the defence ministry, with a deputy defence minister and Shoigu ally recently accused of accepting bribes.