Putin sacks safety chief and replaces him with feared Russian defence boss

Vladimir Putin has sacked security officer Nikolai Patrushev and replaced him with military officer Sergei Shoigu.

Mouthpiece Shoigu had previously served as Minister of Defence of Russia from 2012 and is now poised to serve as the secretary of the Security Council of Russia. It marks another reshuffle from Putin who has presided over several major changes to his government since the invasion of Ukraine.

Patrushev’s sacking comes just days after Shoigu was told to prepare exercises in increasing “the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to fulfil combat missions.”

READ MORE: Russia begins ‘process of nuking world’ as ‘new nuclear red line’ drawn by Putin

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A statement from Putin read: “To release Patrushev Nikolai Platonovich from the post of Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation in connection with his transfer to another job.”

It also confirmed the appointment of Shoigu, who was announced as the new Secretary of the Security Council in a separate announcement from the Kremlin.

It read: “To appoint Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu as Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.” Shoigu’s involvement with home security and the war in Ukraine has been frequent over the last two years.

He will be replaced by former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov. Analysts have seen the shake-up as a chance for Putin to project a stable image of government following the resignation of the government before Putin was sworn in for a third term.

Putin will rule for another six-year term starting Tuesday (May 14). Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and chief of Russia’s general staff Valery Gerasimov are expected to stay in their positions.

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