Putin sidelines hunting friend Shoigu from defence top job after ridicule by soldiers

VLADIMIR PUTIN has sidelined his defence minister just as Ukraine launches its biggest counter-offensive.

Media reports backed up by Western intelligence said that the Russian president had ordered his military commanders to report to him directly rather than to Sergei Shoigu, who he blames for the stalled invasion.

“Relations between Putin and Shoigu have changed so much that the defence minister does not even dare to promote decisions that the military considers necessary,” said media reports quoting defence ministry sources.

As evidence, istories, an investigative news website, highlighted Mr Shoigu’s last major appearance on Russian TV.

During the meeting on July 4 to report the conquest of Luhansk, istories said Mr Putin put down Mr Shoigu by telling him that lower ranking generals commanding Russian forces had told him the news.

“The president made it clear he communicates directly with Shoigu’s subordinates and it is not clear what role the minister of defence plays,” istories reported. “Decisions on key appointments in the ministry of defence are made without taking Shoigu’s opinion into account.”

Since then, Mr Shoigu has been on TV only a handful of times and always in secondary roles. His last prominent appearance was on July 31. His fall from grace was also highlighted yesterday by the Ministry of Defence.

“Shoigu has likely long struggled to overcome his reputation as lacking substantive military experience,” it said.

Even though he often wears a military uniform decorated with medals or ribbons and is referred to as a general,

Mr Shoigu has not served in the army. The Mod’s analysis added: “Russian officers and soldiers with first-hand experience of the war ridicule Shoigu for his out-of-touch leadership.”

Mr Putin has been quick to sack FSB intelligence chiefs and military commanders who he feels have let him down in Russia’s “special operation”.

The development suggests frustration over Russia’s failing war is driving in-fighting at the heart of the Kremlin.

Losing Mr Putin’s confidence will be seen as a humiliation for a man who has been on hunting breaks with the president and was one of the few he would see during Covid lockdowns.

He is also popular with the public. Some commentators speculated that he may succeed Mr Putin as president. But with support for the war falling and his modernisation programme an apparent failure, views have changed.