Putin found the right moment: the ISW explained personnel changes in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Personnel changes in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation began a week before Vladimir Putin announced the decision to dismiss the head of the department of Sergey Shoig. Two deputy minister - Ruslan Tsalikov and Alexei Kryvorukko - resigned. They were involved in corruption scandals. This is stated in the report of the Institute of War Study (ISW) for May 13. Tsalikov has been a "right hand of Shogu" for many years.

He was responsible for securing the Russian army and information policy of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. Kryvoruchko was engaged in military-technical support, the development of weapons, special equipment and the execution of state defense order. At the end of May, the Russian authorities allegedly questioned Tsalikov on possible accusations of corruption. Analysts are reminiscent of the recent detention and arrest of Timur Ivanov's deputy shoig.

Probably, Tsalikov and Kryvoruchko resigned with the hopes of avoiding criminal prosecution, as well as to receive new positions outside the defense department. In the Russian information space, it is believed that the release of Shogu from the post of Minister of Defense and the appointment of Andrei Belousov will solve bureaucratic problems in the department.

Russian military bloggers are trying to dispel the fears of Belous's lack of military experience, which can prevent him from effectively fulfilling the duties of the Minister of Defense. Belous is shown as a competent manager who can eradicate corruption. ISW suggests that Putin used the resignation of ministers provided by the Constitution of the Russian Federation after his inauguration as a convenient moment for the release of inefficient officials.

Analysts recalled that a year ago, the leader of the Wagner PEC Yevhen Prigogin tried to arrange a "uprising" against Shoig. Now Putin has found a right moment to release the Minister of Defense without being subjected to Prigogine. We will remind, on April 24 the Basman district of Moscow's court arrested the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Timur Ivanov on suspicion of receiving a bribe.