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As the fighting in the Kharkiv region continues to escalate, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered a white-hot phase. At this critical juncture, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected decision to appoint a civilian economist as the new defense minister. This move has aroused widespread attention and heated discussions in the international community, and is regarded as the most important decision made by Putin to the military command since the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Agence France-Presse, large-scale clashes have recently erupted in the Kharkiv region. Russian forces tried to launch a surprise attack in the early hours of the morning in order to break through the lines of the Ukrainian army. However, the Ukrainian army deployed more defenses in the area in advance, successfully repelling the Russian offensive. Despite the enormous pressure on the Ukrainian army, they held their ground and engaged in a fierce confrontation with the Russian army. (Shoigu on the command vehicle of the parade on May 9, 2024, the 72nd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War)
Just when the fierce battle in Kharkov was in full swing, Putin suddenly announced the decision to change the commander. Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a veteran who has been defense minister since 2012, was transferred from the post of defense minister to the post of secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. And the newly appointed Minister of Defense Belousov, who was previously the first deputy prime minister of Russia, was in charge of economic work. This personnel change has undoubtedly brought a great shock to the outside world.
Reaction to Putin's decision has been mixed. Some analysts believe that Putin's move is aimed at making a new breakthrough on the battlefield, adjusting military tactics and enhancing the combat effectiveness of the army by changing commanders. At the same time, there is also a view that Putin's choice of a non-military person as defense minister may be to introduce new ways of thinking and management to promote the innovative development of Russia's national defense.
It is worth noting that while Putin is changing the commander, he has not made large-scale adjustments to the chief of the general staff and other key military leadership posts of the Russian army. This shows that Putin has maintained a cautious and steady attitude in personnel changes to avoid causing too big a shock to the army's command system.
In addition, the background of the new Minister of Defense Belousov is also worth paying attention to. As an economist-turned-politician, he has a deep understanding of the combination of economics and the military. During his tenure as First Deputy Prime Minister, he was in charge of Russia's economy and made an important contribution to Russia's economic development. Therefore, after taking office, he may pay more attention to the coordinated development of the military and the economy and promote the modernization of Russia's national defense.
It can be seen that he has visited Beijing in 2023 and has held consultations on economic cooperation between China and Russia and other aspects, and he has a relatively good understanding of China.
At a time when the fierce battle in Kharkiv is in full swing, Putin's decision to change the commander on the spot has undoubtedly brought new variables to this conflict. In the future, how the fighting situation of the Russian army in the Kharkiv region will develop, and how the new defense minister will lead Russia's defense cause to a new stage of development, these are all issues worthy of our continued attention. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Zanuzhny from his military on May 8.
In this conflict, both Ukraine and Russia are facing enormous challenges and pressures. It is hoped that the two sides will be able to resolve their differences through peaceful means as soon as possible and avoid more bloodshed and sacrifices. At the same time, the international community should also strengthen dialogue and coordination to promote stability and peaceful development of the regional situation.