Russian President Vladimir Putin has reshuffled some key positions in his cabinet – appointing a civilian economist as his new defence minister.
Reuters reports that Putin wants to better utilise the defence budget and harness greater innovation to win the war in Ukraine.
Andrei Belousov is a 65-year-old former deputy prime minister who specialises in economics.
He replaces his long-term ally, Sergei Shoigu, 68, as defence minister.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the change makes sense because Russia is approaching a situation like the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s, when the military and law enforcement authorities accounted for 7.4% of gross domestic product (GDP).
He says it’s vital to ensure such spending is better integrated with the country’s overall economy.
However, outgoing defence minister Shoigu is not left without a job and has been given a position that is senior.
Putin wants Shoigu to become the secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, replacing incumbent Nikolai Patrushev, and to also have responsibilities for the military-industrial complex.
He has left Alexander Bortnikov and Sergei Naryshkin, the chiefs of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), in their posts.
And added to this, Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia’s General Staff and someone with a more hands-on role when it comes to directing the war, will remain in the position.
Sergei Lavrov, the country’s veteran foreign minister, will also stay in his job.
This secures Putin’s circle of loyalty as he presses on with the war in Ukraine.
