Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a decree appointing a new government that includes replacing the defense minister with a former deputy prime minister, an economics expert with no military experience.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new government order Tuesday that includes replacing the defense minister with a former deputy prime minister, an economics expert with no military background.
When President Putin was sworn in for a new six-year term on May 7, the government submitted his resignation in accordance with Russian law. Three days later, President Putin reappointed Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, a move quickly approved by the Duma.
On Sunday, he signed a decree transferring Sergei Shoigu from the post of defense minister to chairman of the National Security Council. President Putin also named Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov to replace Shoigu.
Putin also proposed the names of candidates to return to some ministerial posts, and Mishustin also submitted names for several new ministers, all of which were approved by parliament.
Shoigu is considered a key figure in President Putin's decision to send Russian troops to Ukraine. Russia expected the operation to quickly overwhelm the much smaller and less well-equipped Ukrainian army, and that the Ukrainian population would broadly welcome the Russian forces.
Instead, the conflict prompted Ukraine to mount a fierce defense that dealt humiliating blows to Russian forces, including a retreat from an attempt to take the capital, Kiev, and a counterattack that drove Moscow's forces out of the Kharkov region.
Mr. Shoigu also fell into the shadows last month after Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested on suspicion of taking a large sum of money.
Putin's executive order largely follows the previous cabinet, but appoints new ministers of energy, sports, transport, industry and agriculture.
