Andrei Belousov, the technocrat economist appointed to replace Shoigu, has a mandate to reduce corruption in the defence ministry and streamline military production for a long war against Ukraine that could largely be decided by industrial output.
But former defence and Kremlin officials, ex-officers and foreign observers said it was likely the exit of Shoigu and loss of his protection that has allowed the FSB, the Russian security department responsible for internal investigations, to take down top officials in a power struggle that could affect how Russia fights the war in Ukraine.
"The FSB finally got their teeth in the defence ministry and general staff," said Capt John Foreman, the UK's former defence attache to Moscow, who said he believed the arrests could continue.
"Shoigu and [chief of the general staff Valery] Gerasimov provided a buffer, but now Putin decided he had to do something," he said. "Shoigu kept the FSB largely away from the ministry throughout his tenure, there were very few arrests. Once the FSB has their teeth in you, who knows how far they will go?"
Denne historien er fra May 27, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra May 27, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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