Photo: Russian Defense Minister Belousov (center) inspected the ground forces control center on the 17th. \Associated Press

[Ta Kung Pao News]According to RIA Novosti: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on the 17th to dismiss four Russian Deputy Defense Ministers and appoint four new Deputy Defense Ministers. This is another major move by Putin following the appointment of former First Deputy Prime Minister Belousov as the new Defense Minister last month.

On the same day, Putin dismissed Popov, Pankov, Tsalikov and Shevtsova from their posts as deputy defense ministers, appointed Deputy Finance Minister Gornin as first deputy defense minister, and appointed Zhivileva, Vladkov and Saveliev as deputy defense ministers.

Russian media said that Zhivileva is the daughter of Putin’s late cousin and is also the president of Kolmar Coal Group, a well-known Russian coal mining company. According to the order signed by Putin, the Ministry of Defense is allowed to set up 12 deputy ministers, including two first deputy ministers.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been reports that several Russian Defense Ministry officials have accepted bribes. Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov was detained in late April on suspicion of accepting huge bribes and could face up to 15 years in prison.

In mid-May, Putin suddenly removed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who had been in office for more than 10 years, and appointed former First Deputy Prime Minister and economist Belousov as the new Defense Minister. Analysts pointed out that the recent personnel changes in the Russian Ministry of Defense are a series of major moves by Putin to reorganize the military, with the aim of strengthening the Russian military’s strength on the Ukrainian front.