Russia's Putin Replaces Defense Minister in Security Shake-Up.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, with economist Andrei Belousov in a significant shake-up of the military's command structure. This move reflects the central role that the war in Ukraine has played in Russia's economic paradigm. Shoigu, who has faced criticism for his handling of the war, has been appointed as the new secretary of the Security Council. The appointment of Belousov, a loyalist with economic expertise, suggests that defense spending will remain high as Russia continues its military operations in Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]