Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed defense minister Sergei Shoigu, who had held the position since 2012, on Sunday evening.
That sudden shift comes a few days after the start of Putin’s fifth presidential term and more than two years after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu will be replaced by Andrey Belusov, the Kremlin announced.
Shoigu was appointed Secretary of the Security Council, and that position was held by Nikolay Patrushev, who was dismissed from that position, the statement added.
At the same time, Putin proposed that Sergey Lavrov remain in the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
