A Kremlin shake-up of Russia’s Defense Ministry comes at a key moment in the Ukraine war

By The Associated Press

Over the weekend, President Vladimir Putin replaced Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu — the longest serving member of his Cabinet at 11 1/2 years — in a rare Kremlin shake-up that came even as a Russian offensive in Ukraine is making gains. Just as stunning was the move to replace Shoigu with Andrei Belousov, an economics adviser who has never dealt with the military or other law enforcement agencies. Many see Putin’s decision as an attempt to tighten control over military spending and put the burgeoning defense sector in sync with the rest of the economy in preparation for a long war.