Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the appointment of Andrei Belousov as the new Minister of Defense. Belousov was previously First Deputy Prime Minister and will replace Sergei Shoigu, who is set to transition to the role of Secretary of the Security Council.
Shoigu had been serving as Minister of Defense since 2012 and oversaw Russia’s involvement in various conflicts, including the annexation of Crimea, participation in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, involvement in the war in Syria, and deployment of peacekeeping troops in Nagorno Karabakh. Most recently, under his leadership, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Belousov’s appointment as Minister of Defense marks a significant shift in leadership within Russia’s defense sector. It remains to be seen how this change will impact Russia’s military strategies and actions moving forward.
