MOSCOW: Russian Prez Putin sacked four deputy defence ministers on Monday and appointed a relative to fill one of the resulting vacancies. The reshuffle marked the latest stage in a radical shakeout which Putin launched in May when he unexpectedly removed his longstanding defence minister Sergei Shoigu. More than two years into the war in Ukraine, Putin has used the changes to signal that he wants to clear out wastage and corruption in the ministry and harness Russia’s war economy more effectively to serve the needs of soldiers at the front.
He appointed Anna Tsivileva, the daughter of his late cousin, as a deputy defence minister whose responsibilities will include improving social and housing support for military personnel. Her husband Sergei Tsivilev is Russia’s energy minister. Putin had previously appointed Tsivileva as head of a state fund to support participants of Russia’s war effort.
Leonid Gornin, previously first deputy finance minister, will now serve as first deputy defence minister under defence minister Andrei Belousov, an economist with no military experience who was named last month to replace Shoigu. Gornin’s main tasks are “to ensure efficient spending of budget funds”. Also named as deputy defence ministers were Oleg Savelyev and Pavel Fradkov, the son of ex-PM Mikhail Fradkov.
Another ex-deputy defence minister was arrested on April 23 and accused of bribe-taking. Since then, four other top officials and general staff have been held on same charges in Russia’s biggest graft scandal in years.
He appointed Anna Tsivileva, the daughter of his late cousin, as a deputy defence minister whose responsibilities will include improving social and housing support for military personnel. Her husband Sergei Tsivilev is Russia’s energy minister. Putin had previously appointed Tsivileva as head of a state fund to support participants of Russia’s war effort.
Leonid Gornin, previously first deputy finance minister, will now serve as first deputy defence minister under defence minister Andrei Belousov, an economist with no military experience who was named last month to replace Shoigu. Gornin’s main tasks are “to ensure efficient spending of budget funds”. Also named as deputy defence ministers were Oleg Savelyev and Pavel Fradkov, the son of ex-PM Mikhail Fradkov.
Another ex-deputy defence minister was arrested on April 23 and accused of bribe-taking. Since then, four other top officials and general staff have been held on same charges in Russia’s biggest graft scandal in years.