Sergei Shoigu, the man leading Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, was unexpectedly removed as defense minister despite recent military successes. This move signals Putin’s frustration with the conduct of the war and his determination for Russia to be prepared for a long fight against Ukraine and its Western allies. Shoigu, a close Putin ally, has been appointed as the secretary of Russia’s national security council, potentially serving as a comfortable retirement post for him. The decision to replace Shoigu with a civilian economist, Andrei Belousov, shows Putin’s focus on integrating wartime spending into the country’s economy.
Shoigu’s removal is seen as a strategic move by Putin, aligning with his goal of ensuring the Russian economy can sustain a prolonged conflict. The appointment of Belousov as defense minister underscores the importance of managing military resources effectively during times of war. Russia’s shift towards full militarization of society and the economy signals a long-term commitment to winning the war in Ukraine by outproducing the West and securing alternative weapons supplies from countries such as China, North Korea, and Iran. The shake-up in military leadership reflects Putin’s determination to reconstitute Russia around the war effort.
The decision to replace Shoigu with Belousov, a relatively unknown figure in the West, highlights Putin’s focus on integrating economic and military efforts in the war in Ukraine. Belousov’s experience as a civilian economist and former economic aide to Putin positions him to oversee Russia’s military resources effectively. The Kremlin’s framing of Belousov’s appointment emphasizes the need for wartime spending to be integrated into the country’s economy, especially as Russia faces Western sanctions and the need to ramp up domestic military production.
While Russia has made significant gains on the battlefield in Ukraine, Putin’s decision to reshuffle military leadership suggests a shift towards a longer, more economically driven conflict. The appointment of Belousov as defense minister indicates Putin’s strategic focus on ensuring the Russian economy can support sustained military efforts. The Kremlin’s emphasis on integrating wartime spending into the economy reflects a broader strategy of reconstituting Russian society around the war effort. Despite challenges from Western sanctions and dwindling international support, Putin appears determined to win the long war in Ukraine.
