Deputy defense minister arrested on corruption charges
This will likely be a blow to Shoigu, who, according to analysts, has managed to shore up his position after the failures of the initial full-scale invasion. “Over the past 6-12 months, Shoigu has recovered his position in Putin’s eyes and moved noticeably closer to him, successfully managing the flow of information that the president receives about military matters,” said political expert Tatiana Stanovaya. Now, Shoigu faces the distraction of ensuring he is not saddled with a stranger as his new deputy.