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.

This decision also reflects Putin's desire to align defence spending with the country's broader interests, especially as Russia's military and law enforcement agencies currently consume a large portion of state funds.

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.