Putin Transforms Defense Team Amid War Economy Push

In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine against the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out a significant reshuffle of his defense and security team. Putin has appointed former economy aide and First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, 65, as Russia’s new defense minister, replacing Sergei Shoigu, who has served in the position since 2012. Shoigu will now assume a new role as secretary of Russia’s security council. This move has been interpreted by some experts as a sign that Putin intends to transform Russia’s economy into a war economy, with Belousov’s previous advocacy for greater state control of the economy hinting at this possibility. Belousov’s lack of military experience mirrors Shoigu’s, who was also previously without military background when appointed to the position in 2012. As Russia faces the challenge of maximizing the impact of its defense spending amid increasing military aid to Ukraine from Western countries, Putin’s decision to transfer Shoigu and replace him with Belousov has been attributed partly to frustration caused by the slow progress of the war, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Russian deaths. Additionally, Putin’s close associate Nikolai Patrushev, previously the head of the security council, has been dismissed and is expected to take on a different role. The shuffle follows recent moves, including Putin’s renaming of the constitution to allow him to serve until 2036, which puts him at 83 years old. The appointment of Belousov is considered a significant change, with analysts suggesting it represents a “sign that the Russian economy is being transformed into a war economy.”