According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin's replacement of Sergei Shoigu as Russian MOD chief indicates the Kremlin's preparations for a protracted war against Ukraine.
Putin is preparing for a long war against Ukraine
ISW analysts recalled that the Kremlin dictator decided to replace Shoigu with Andrii Bilousov.
At the same time, it was decided to appoint the dismissed head of the Ministry of Defence to the post of Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation instead of Nikolai Patrushev.
According to analysts, such changes in the top leadership of the Russian Federation after the so-called "re-election" of Putin in pseudo-elections indicate that the Kremlin dictator seeks to further mobilise the economic resources of the aggressor country for a long war against Ukraine.
ISW emphasises that Belousov held the position of Minister of Economy in the Russian federal government for almost ten years.
Recently, he also participated in managing various innovative domestic projects in the defence industry and drones.
It is emphasised that this allowed the Russian official to prepare for the leadership of the Russian MOD, which found itself in a difficult situation.
Belousov has a strong reputation as an effective technocrat, and insider sources claim that he also has a positive relationship with Putin, ISW analysts note.
The appointment of Shoigu as the secretary of the Russian Security Council
Shoigu Patrushev's replacement as Security Council secretary is also in line with Putin's general policy of quietly ousting senior security officials by giving them peripheral roles in the Russian security sphere rather than simply firing them.
In the past, he has similarly removed his failed generals, assigning them to peripheral positions related to security and defence outside of direct reporting, sometimes allowing them to "atone for their guilt and return to Putin's service."
In addition to dismissing Patrushev, the Russian dictator largely reappointed the heads of the leading security services, which indicates that he retains the core of loyal security forces.
