Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to replace his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu as defense minister, the Kremlin has announced.
The 68-year-old has been in the role since 2012 and will be appointed head of Russia’s Security Council.
Documents published by the upper house of the Russian parliament state that Shoigu will be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.
Shoigu played a key role in Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Russian government documents show that Putin wants Shoigu to replace Nikolai Patrushev on the security council.
As defense minister, Shoigu became embroiled in a public feud with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023 over Russia’s conduct of the war in Ukraine.
Prigozhin, who led a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, accused Shoigu of being a “scumbag” and “elderly clown” in audio messages that went viral.
The mercenary boss died in a plane crash while flying from St. Petersburg to Moscow in August 2023 – the Kremlin denied he was to blame.
Shoigu Belousov’s suggested replacement is an economist with little military experience and will come as a surprise to some.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposed appointment of a civilian shows that the defense minister’s role requires “innovation.”
“He who is most open to innovation is the one who will emerge victorious on the battlefield,” he said, according to Reuters.
Mr Putin was sworn in as president for the fifth time on Tuesday after winning the recent elections in Russia with 87% of the vote and without facing any credible opponents. He has led Russia since May 2000.
Among the cabinet members who will retain their posts is veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
