Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, nominating an economist to take his place in the most substantial shake-up to the military’s command structure since Moscow launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022. Watch in for more details!

Russia's Putin removes Shoigu as Defence Minister

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth presidential term began with the removal of his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in the most significant rejig in the country's military command since the beginning of war in Ukraine in February 2022.</p>

<p>Shoigu will now head Russia's powerful security council, an autonomous element of the wider Russian presidential administration that acts as the the central body for managing the formulation and execution of security-related policies. While the rejig places Shoigu in a position formally considered higher ranking than his role in the defence ministry, shifting Shoigu to National Security Council chairman could be viewed as a demotion.</p>

<p>Shoigu's future remained the subject of intense speculation in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded his dismissal when launching the dramatic but short-lived mutiny. Prigozhin, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash in August 2023, had accused Shoigu of incompetence and having no regard for the lives of Wagner troops.</p>

<h2><strong>Shoigu's claim to fame</strong></h2>

<p>Shoigu's popularity grew in Russia after Moscow's forces annexed Crimea in 2014. At the helm of Russia's defences then, he was credited to have orchestrated the successful annexation of the region Russia claims as its own.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Russia: Vladimir Putin appoints Sergei Shoigu as security council secretary</strong></p>

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<p>Shoigu was also believed to have direct access to Vladimir Putin. He was often seen on regular hunting and fishing trips with Putin in Siberia.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Ukraine setback and Wagner debacle</strong></h2>

<p>Russia’s minister of defence since 2012, Shoigu is blamed by many critics inside the Russian military for failing to prepare the Russian Armed Forces for the war in Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/loud-and-posh-wagner-chief-prigozhin-gets-quiet-and-sombre-funeral-630339">Loud and posh Wagner chief Prigozhin gets quiet and sombre funeral</a></strong></p>

<p>Shoigu was tasked with modernising Russia's military and rooting out widespread corruption that plagued&nbsp;the military. But he came under intense criticism for Moscow's inability to overwhelm Ukrainian defences in the immediate weeks after Russia launched war on Ukraine. He was also blamed for failing to stop an armed uprising in June 2023 by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had called for his arrest after accusing him of discriminating between regular Russian armed forces and Wagner mercenaries.&nbsp;</p>


Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth presidential term began with the removal of his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in the most significant rejig in the country's military command since the beginning of war in Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth presidential term began with the removal of his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in the most significant rejig in the country's military command since the beginning of war in Ukraine in February 2022. Shoigu will now head Russia's powerful security council, an autonomous element of the wider Russian presidential administration that acts as the the central body for managing the formulation and execution of security-related policies. While the rejig places Shoigu in a position formally considered higher ranking than his role in the defence ministry, shifting Shoigu to National Security Council chairman could be viewed as a demotion. Shoigu's future remained the subject of intense speculation in and beyond Moscow's corridors of power since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin demanded his dismissal when launching the dramatic but short-lived mutiny. Prigozhin, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash in August 2023, had accused Shoigu of incompetence and having no regard for the lives of Wagner troops. Shoigu's claim to fame Shoigu's popularity grew in Russia after Moscow's forces annexed Crimea in 2014. At the helm of Russia's defences then, he was credited to have orchestrated the successful annexation of the region Russia claims as its own. Also watch | Russia: Vladimir Putin appoints Sergei Shoigu as security council secretary × Shoigu was also believed to have direct access to Vladimir Putin. He was often seen on regular hunting and fishing trips with Putin in Siberia. The Ukraine setback and Wagner debacle Russia’s minister of defence since 2012, Shoigu is blamed by many critics inside the Russian military for failing to prepare the Russian Armed Forces for the war in Ukraine. Also read | Loud and posh Wagner chief Prigozhin gets quiet and sombre funeral Shoigu was tasked with modernising Russia's military and rooting out widespread corruption that plagued the military. But he came under intense criticism for Moscow's inability to overwhelm Ukrainian defences in the immediate weeks after Russia launched war on Ukraine. He was also blamed for failing to stop an armed uprising in June 2023 by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had called for his arrest after accusing him of discriminating between regular Russian armed forces and Wagner mercenaries.

Who is Sergei Shoigu? Putin's hunting partner just shown exit door from Russian defence ministry

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<p>Russia's&nbsp;most prominent opposition leader&nbsp;Alexei&nbsp;Navalny, who died on February 16 under mysterious circumstances, received the Dresden Peace Prize on Sunday (May 12).</p>

<p>The award&nbsp;was received&nbsp;by&nbsp;Navalny's&nbsp;wife&nbsp;Yulia&nbsp;Navalnaya&nbsp;during&nbsp;a ceremony, where former German president Joachim Gauck delivered the laudatory speech.</p>

<p>"The resistance of the opposition politician was and is an emboldening example to all the human rights defenders who are continuing his activities,"&nbsp;the organisers said at the event.</p>

<p>In his speech,&nbsp;Gauck declared Navalny a&nbsp;"feared opponent"&nbsp;of President Vladimir Putin, using a German sporting term.&nbsp;The award comes with a $10,800 prize.</p>

<h2><strong>About Dresden Prize</strong></h2>

<p>The Friends of Dresden have been awarding the Dresden Prize on the anniversary of the&nbsp;city's&nbsp;destruction in World War II since 2010. It&nbsp;is awarded&nbsp;to those individuals who have made&nbsp;a special&nbsp;contribution to peace and international understanding.</p>

<h2><strong>About Alexei Navalny</strong></h2>

<p>Alexei Navalny rose to prominence by writing hard-hitting columns against Russian President Vladimir Putin as a lawyer. In his blogs, Navalny would expose vast corruption among the Russian elites and claim the country was&nbsp;being ruled&nbsp;by&nbsp;"crooks and thieves".</p>

<p>Some called him overtly nationalist. He would march in Russian nationalist marches in the 2000s. His vehement opposition to migration and support for nationalistic movement prompted his expulsion from the liberal opposition party Yabloko in 2007.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiLjZOhoIiGAxUbyDgGHfjhCEUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-russian-journalists-detained-over-extremism-after-allegedly-working-for-navalny-group-715972" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/two-russian-journalists-detained-over-extremism-after-allegedly-working-for-navalny-group-715972&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiLjZOhoIiGAxUbyDgGHfjhCEUQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Two Russian journalists detained over ‘extremism’ after allegedly working for Navalny group</a></strong></p>

<p>But that did not deter him from continuing his&nbsp;perilous&nbsp;journey of standing up to the most powerful leader in the nation.</p>

<p>He would highlight the lavish lifestyle of top Russian leaders and&nbsp;would&nbsp;use the internet and drones to illustrate the vast holdings and luxury properties&nbsp;of the elites.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiLjZOhoIiGAxUbyDgGHfjhCEUQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-mother-accused-russian-officials-of-pressuring-her-into-secret-burial-692865" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-mother-accused-russian-officials-of-pressuring-her-into-secret-burial-692865&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiLjZOhoIiGAxUbyDgGHfjhCEUQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">Navalny`s mother sees his body, accuses Russian officials of pressuring her into `secret burial`</a></strong></p>

<p>It was in 2011 when Navalny was arrested by Russian authorities for alleging fraud in the 2011 parliamentary elections that saw&nbsp;Putin’s&nbsp;party register a landslide victory.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died on February 16 under mysterious circumstances, received the Dresden Peace Prize on Sunday (May 12).

Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died on February 16 under mysterious circumstances, received the Dresden Peace Prize on Sunday (May 12). The award was received by Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya during a ceremony, where former German president Joachim Gauck delivered the laudatory speech. "The resistance of the opposition politician was and is an emboldening example to all the human rights defenders who are continuing his activities," the organisers said at the event. In his speech, Gauck declared Navalny a "feared opponent" of President Vladimir Putin, using a German sporting term. The award comes with a $10,800 prize. About Dresden Prize The Friends of Dresden have been awarding the Dresden Prize on the anniversary of the city's destruction in World War II since 2010. It is awarded to those individuals who have made a special contribution to peace and international understanding. About Alexei Navalny Alexei Navalny rose to prominence by writing hard-hitting columns against Russian President Vladimir Putin as a lawyer. In his blogs, Navalny would expose vast corruption among the Russian elites and claim the country was being ruled by "crooks and thieves". Some called him overtly nationalist. He would march in Russian nationalist marches in the 2000s. His vehement opposition to migration and support for nationalistic movement prompted his expulsion from the liberal opposition party Yabloko in 2007. Also read: Two Russian journalists detained over ‘extremism’ after allegedly working for Navalny group But that did not deter him from continuing his perilous journey of standing up to the most powerful leader in the nation. He would highlight the lavish lifestyle of top Russian leaders and would use the internet and drones to illustrate the vast holdings and luxury properties of the elites. Also read: Navalny`s mother sees his body, accuses Russian officials of pressuring her into `secret burial` It was in 2011 when Navalny was arrested by Russian authorities for alleging fraud in the 2011 parliamentary elections that saw Putin’s party register a landslide victory. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin critic Alexei Navalny awarded Dresden Peace Prize posthumously 

Russia-Ukraine war: Evacuations continue in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Moscow steps up strikes

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