![Shoigu apart. Did he wish to change Putin? [KOMENTARZ]](https://cdn.defence24.pl/2024/05/13/1920x1080px/Ah638BAUsOvS2YY314YwYpa94ygB3BEkVK7Y5k5V.efci.jpg "Shoigu apart. Did he wish to change Putin? [KOMENTARZ]")
Sergei Shoigu from 2022 after not taking Kiev
Creator. mil.ru
The appointment of Andrei Belousov as Minister of Protection, fortuitously for Ukraine, is yet one more proof that Minoborona is, in precept, to be led by a politician and, on the similar time, a army ignoramus. It was the identical within the case of Sergei Shoigu and his predecessor: Anatoly Serdyukov.
Though on the official web site of the Russian Ministry of Protection Sergei Shoigu was nonetheless listed as a minister at midnight on Could 12, 2024, it’s nearly sure that he can be moved to the place of Chairman of the Safety Council and Andrei Belousov can be appointed in his place. The one unknown on this personnel puzzle is the destiny of Nikolai Patrushev, who, changed by Shoigu, is at present in political oblivion.
The feedback that instantly appeared within the media formally point out the Kremlin’s will to civilize the Ministry of Protection of the Russian Federation to be able to give the looks of civilian management over the military and higher administration of the large finances allotted to the military. Actually, this “civilization” has already been applied earlier than. Simply as Andrei Belousov is a army ignorant right this moment, Sergei Shoigu was a army ignorant in 2012, when he grew to become the top of the Ministry of Protection.
It should be remembered that the just lately dismissed head of Minoborona by no means truly served within the military, being a typical Soviet and Russian apparatchik. His solely army schooling was coaching on the “conflict cathedral” of the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute, the place Shoigu studied civil engineering till 1977. As a typical pupil, he didn’t truly serve within the military, however after passing the “cathedral” he acquired the rank of “junior lieutenant”.
Shoigu additionally didn’t obtain army coaching later in his profession. First, he labored in trade, and in 1988 he grew to become an lively social gathering activist (like his father, Kuzugiet Shoigu). He was promoted in a short time, gaining additional schooling by means of the social gathering (a doctorate in economics), in addition to the rank of normal (from Boris Yeltsin) for his trustworthy perspective through the coup in Moscow in 1993.
Shoigu even acquired the title of Hero of the Russian Federation from Yeltsin on September 20, 1999 “for braveness and heroism proven whereas performing army service in excessive conditions.” Apparently, he was then the Minister of Civil Protection, Emergency Conditions and Catastrophe Reduction of the Russian Federation with the rank of colonel normal.
Sergei Shoigu in 2015 after the occupation of Crimea
Creator. Photograph mil.ru
For his trustworthy perspective, Shoigu was lastly appointed by the choice of Vladimir Putin on November 6, 2012, to the place of Minister of Protection. He changed Anatoly Serdyukov, who was additionally not a army man, however an economist (graduated from the Institute of Soviet Commerce in Leningrad in 1984) and a lawyer (graduated from the College of Regulation on the College of St. Petersburg). Now (in 2024) there was a type of “return to the previous” and the development engineer can be changed by an economist once more. Shoigu’s successor, Andrei Belousov, graduated in economics from the College of Moscow.
There are much more such variations between the previous and the brand new head of Minoborona. In comparison with Shoigu, Belolusov, for instance, doesn’t have a army rank. Nonetheless, because it seems, solely formally. As a high-level authorities official, Belolusov holds the rank of State Advisor of the Russian Federation, 1st diploma. In the meantime, in accordance with the desk accredited by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation in 2005, this rank corresponds to the army rank of normal of the military or admiral of the fleet. Within the Russian actuality, nothing will forestall Basic Belolusov from main one other army parade on Pink Sq. in Moscow.
A sure drawback, taking into consideration the mentality of the Russians, stands out as the large distinction within the variety of decorations. Shoigu had 55 of them on his uniform, whereas Belolusov has solely 4, together with one as minor because the “In Reminiscence of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow” medal. But additionally on this case, the brand new protection minister will be capable to depend on the assistance of his principal, Vladimir Putin. That is all of the extra seemingly as a result of Belolusova is one in every of Putin’s supporters and buddies, which actually couldn’t be mentioned about Shoigu just lately.
The previous protection minister has even change into a type of burden for the Russian president, not solely stopping him from receiving additional area good points in Ukraine, but additionally theoretically threatening him as a potential successor. In the meantime, Belolusov, at the same time as president of the Russian Federation, can be a assure for Putin of staying in energy, even when it have been to be within the second row.
Shoigu is burdened not solely by his unfulfilled guarantees relating to the conflict in Ukraine and his political ambitions, but additionally by his supporters on the highest ranges. Putin has already began to cope with them by arresting Deputy Protection Minister Timur Ivanov on the finish of April 2024 – theoretically for corruption. Nonetheless, one of these offense is the norm on the highest ranges of Russian energy, so the indictment will most likely be modified to excessive treason. And some different buddies of Shoygu could face comparable fees.
Happily, all this confusion within the Russian Ministry of Protection will definitely not hurt Ukraine. Shoigu was certainly a army ignoramus when he began working in Minoboron, however after eleven years of labor as a minister he’s actually not so anymore. And this isn’t about army data, as a result of he actually didn’t purchase it, however in regards to the data of the scenario within the military, in addition to the power to tell apart normal lies from the true scenario within the Russian armed forces. In the meantime, Belolusov will initially should depend on the recommendation and opinions of generals, which will definitely not have a optimistic impression on the scenario on the entrance for the Kremlin.
The destiny of the previous Chairman of the Safety Council, Nikolai Patrushev, stays unknown. Theoretically, this was Putin’s man, who was topic to Western sanctions for his involvement within the conflict in Ukraine. Like Putin, he additionally had a profession within the KGB, and later within the FSB for a while he would even be the director of the Federal Safety Service. Now, nonetheless, by decree of the President of Russia of Could 12, 2024, he has been faraway from his place, formally: “attributable to shifting to a different job.”
Within the Russian Federation, nonetheless, such an announcement doesn’t essentially bode properly.
