Sergei Shoigu, who embodied the stability of Vladimir Putin’s various governments, has been replaced by Andrei Belooussov, an economist by training, as Russian Defence Minister. The decision came in a surprise reshuffle announced on Sunday 12 May, a few days after the Russian president was sworn in for a fifth term and after more than two years of conflict in Ukraine

Choigou, 68, had been Defence Minister since 2012. His dismissal was accompanied by a presidential decree published by the Kremlin, which states that he will now become Secretary of the Security Council, a post previously held by Nikolai Patrushev, who was himself dismissed.

This reshuffle comes at a time when the Russian army is stepping up its operations in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, where it has launched a ground assault, and is increasing its pressure in the Donbass region, particularly around the town of Chassiv Iar.

Sergei Shoigu was considered a pillar of Russian defence policy, as was Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who remains in his post. Despite some setbacks suffered by Russian troops in Ukraine in 2022, Vladimir Putin had maintained his confidence in Choigou, despite criticism from some of the army’s anti-war wing.

Andrei Belooussov, who takes over from Choigou, has no previous military experience. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov justified the decision by saying that it was necessary because of the situation on the Ukrainian front, stressing that in the context of a prolonged conflict with no clear end in sight, it was crucial to be open to innovation and new strategic approaches.

In recent months, Vladimir Putin has encouraged the Russian defence industry to innovate and produce in greater quantities to support the offensive in Ukraine, an operation that has been costly both in terms of equipment and human lives.