Press
Andrei Beloussov becomes the new Russian defense minister. His British counterpart Grant Shapps explains what he thinks of him.
London/Moscow – After the surprising dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s rulers Wladimir Putin has already chosen a successor to the post of defense minister. The previous deputy head of government and long-time Putin advisor on economic issues Andrei Beloussov is said to be in times of Ukraine war direct the Kremlin’s military fortunes. Britain’s defense minister, however, has a clear opinion of his new counterpart.
NATO minister issues scathing testimony to Shoigu’s successor
Grant Shapps, Defense Minister under British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak since summer 2023, is taking the change of power in the Russian Defense Ministry as an opportunity to express his impression of this on his X channel.
Shapps writes to his followers regretfully that Shoigu caused over 355,000 deaths among his own soldiers and much suffering among the civilian population as part of the criminal campaign in Ukraine and emphasizes: “Russia needs a defense minister who will reverse this catastrophic legacy and the invasion would end – but all they get is another Putin puppet.”
Looking at the economy: Beloussov should prepare Russia for long-term war
Beloussov, whose appointment has yet to be confirmed by the Russian Federation Council, is a respected economist in Russia. His election by Putin indicates this, writes the Newsweekthat the Kremlin sees victory in Ukraine – and perhaps beyond – as a matter of economics.
This assessment, reports the Ukrainian Pravda, also shares the renowned US Institute for the Study of War (ISW). There are therefore many indications that, after the controversial Russian presidential election, significant steps will be taken to mobilize the Russian war economy in order to enable a protracted war against Ukraine – and possibly to prepare for a future confrontation with NATO.
Putin’s hope: Kremlin spokesman raves about Beloussov
Furthermore, so the Ukrainian PravdaBeloussov’s nearly decade-long tenure as Minister of Economy in the Russian government, as well as his recent involvement in leading various innovative domestic defense industry and drone projects, is believed to have prepared him well to lead the Russian Defense Ministry.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the new personnel, according to Russian media tellingly with the words: “Today on the battlefield, the one who is more open to innovation wins. Therefore, it is self-evident that the President has decided at this point that the Russian Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian.” Andrei Beloussov, Peskov hopes, will bring Russia’s security and its economy into harmony. (chnnn)
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