Russian President Vladimir Putin has named a new defense minister to replace Gen. Sergey Shoigu, 68, a longstanding ally who has held the post since 2012.
Gen. Shoigu is set to be replaced as defense minister by Andrei Belousov, a former minister of economic development and deputy prime minister.
Unlike his predecessor, Mr. Belousov, 65, hails from a civilian rather than military background, but is said to be well-versed in military economics.
“The president has decided that a civilian should head up the defense ministry,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on May 13.
“On today’s battlefield, the winners are those who are more open to innovation,” he said.
According to Mr. Peskov, the defense ministry must be “totally open” to new technologies and novel means of ensuring economic competitiveness.
“For this reason,” he said, “the president has selected Mr. Belousov for the post.”
Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said Mr. Belousov is known for applying cutting-edge innovations to state institutions.
“His innovative approach was the main reason behind his recent appointment,” Mr. Pukhov was quoted as saying by Russia’s TASS news agency.
“Implementation of new technologies in the military sphere will be one of his main tasks going forward,” he said.
Economic ‘War of Attrition’
Mr. Belousov served as economic development minister from 2012 to 2013, after which he served as Mr. Putin’s economic adviser for seven years.In 2020, he was given the post of deputy prime minister.
Mr. Belousov is known to be ideologically close to Mr. Putin and reportedly shares the latter’s vision of building a strong Russian state and military.
He has also played a central role in overseeing Russia’s drone program, which—driven by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—has advanced rapidly in recent years.
In his first public remarks since he was tapped for the post, Mr. Belousov stressed the need to improve conditions for rank-and-file Russian soldiers.
“It’s unacceptable that personnel taking part in the special military operation … are driven from civilian medical institutions to hospitals, which are often overcrowded,” he told parliament on May 13.
“This issue needs to be resolved,” he said.
In comments cited by local media outlets, Mr. Belousov also complained that excessive red tape was hindering payment of benefits to military personnel.
He also alluded to longstanding problems pertaining to housing and medical treatment for army veterans.
The remarks appeared to be aimed at showing military personnel that he understood their concerns and would work—if appointed—on improving their conditions.
Mr. Belousov’s likely appointment also signals Moscow’s desire to direct the weight of Russia’s economy, which has so far survived Western-led sanctions, toward the war effort.
Despite the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed on a major economy, Russian policymakers have proven adept at maintaining economic stability.
“War of attrition is won by economics,” Alexandra Prokopenko, a former Russian central bank adviser, said in a social-media post.
“Belousov is in favor of stimulating demand from the budget, which means military spending will not decrease, but increase,” she added.
His appointment is also likely to bring defense spending under greater scrutiny after Timur Ivanov, a deputy defense minister, was charged last month with taking millions of dollars worth of illicit kickbacks.
Shoigu to Head Security Council
Meanwhile, Gen. Shoigu, a longtime Putin ally and confidante, is expected to take the helm of Russia’s powerful Security Council, replacing Nikolai Patrushev, 72.Gen. Shoigu will also reportedly remain in charge of certain aspects of Russia’s sprawling military-industrial sector, according to the Kremlin.
Mr. Patrushev, who has headed up the Security Council since 2008, will likely be appointed to another key position, which has yet to be announced.
“Nikolai Patrushev has been relieved of his post as head of the Security Council due to his transfer to another position,” Mr. Peskov told reporters on May 12.
“Within the next few days, we will inform you where he will continue his activities,” the spokesman added.
Mr. Putin’s recommendations are expected to come into effect once they are formally approved by parliament.
If implemented, they will be the biggest shake-up of Russia’s military command structure since Moscow launched its invasion of eastern Ukraine in early 2022.
The changes come within the context of an anticipated reshuffle by Mr. Putin, who won a fifth term as president—by a wide margin—in the March elections.
Meanwhile, several other leading officials in Russia’s military and security hierarchy are set to keep their current positions.
These include military chief-of-staff Valery Gerasimov and the directors of Russia’s Federal Security Service and Foreign Intelligence Service.
Sergey Lavrov, who has served as Moscow’s top diplomat since 2004, is also expected to remain in his current role.
