Two of Putin's most important confidants are given unexpected new tasks: Defense Minister Shoigu and Secretary of the Security Council Patrushev. What is also interesting is who is allowed to stay in their post.
The rumors swirled for months. But no one really wanted to believe that Putin would part ways with an old confidant in the middle of the war. Now Sergei Shoigu is losing his job, and the choice of his successor is even more unexpected. Of all people, an economist is supposed to take over the Ministry of Defense for him. And that's not the only surprise the Kremlin had in store on Sunday evening. Vladimir Putin is also replacing Nikolai Patrushev, the influential secretary of the Security Council. Two of his most important confidants are given new roles, which indicates one thing above all: Vladimir Putin is rebuilding for a long war.
