Putin removes Sergei Shoigu as Russia’s defence minister

Russian president says successor to Shoigu, who has been defence minister for years, will be Andrei Belousov, an economist

Vladimir Putin has removed his longtime ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in the most significant reshuffle to the military command since Russian troops invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.

In a surprise announcement, the Kremlin said Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister who specialises in economics, will replace Shoigu.