British Defense Minister Grant Shapps has vocally criticized the recent appointment of Andrei Belousov as Russia's new Defense Minister, replacing Sergei Shoigu.
In a statement on Twitter (X), Shapps described Belousov as yet another "puppet" of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
In his tweet, Shapps pointed out the grim legacy of Shoigu, attributing to him the deaths of over 355,000 Russian soldiers and widespread suffering among civilians due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Russia needs a defense minister who would change this disastrous legacy and end the invasion, but all they have received is another puppet of Putin,” Shapps stated.
The replacement of Shoigu with Belousov occurred on May 12, with Shoigu moving to the position of Secretary of the Security Council, succeeding Nikolai Patrushev.
This move is part of a broader adjustment in the Russian leadership, which, according to experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), signals intensified preparations for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine and possible future confrontations with NATO.
