Why has Putin removed ally Sergei Shoigu as Russia's defence minister? - BBC News

Steve Rosenberg considers possible reasons behind Sergei Shoigu's replacement in the middle of a war.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, Sergei Shoigu (left) has long been a Putin loyalist

A few thoughts about Russian reshuffles.

Thought number one: whoever's sitting around the cabinet table in Russia, there's only one man taking the key decisions in the country - and that's President Putin.

In modern Russia the entire political system is constructed around him. It's worth keeping in mind when discussing who's in and who's out of the government. Central policy is unlikely to change.

Does that mean that a Russian government reshuffle isn't interesting, or significant?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-69006046

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