Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the dismissal of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, appointing Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousuv in his place.
According to the Associated Press agency, after proposing the dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing him secretary of Russia’s national security council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev.
The appointment of Andrei Belousuv as Defense Minister will have to be approved by Russian deputies.
This remodeling comes at a time when Putin begins his fifth presidential term and the war in Ukraine has lasted for more than three years.
Furthermore, the move comes weeks after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, responsible for military construction projects, was detained and accused of accepting large-scale bribes.
The team of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny conducted anti-corruption investigations and accused Ivanov – an ally of Sergei Shoigu – of leading a lavish lifestyle.
Timur Ivanov was the target of sanctions from the United States and the European Union in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
