Russia Appoints Civilian Deputy Defense Minister Amid Leadership Restructuring

Russia has appointed Vasily Osmakov, a senior civilian technocrat, as the new deputy defense minister, as announced by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov during a gathering of leaders from post-Soviet nations in Kazakhstan on Friday.

Osmakov, who previously held the position of first deputy minister of industry and trade, takes over from Alexander Fomin, a veteran military official known for his role in Russia’s international military relations and participation in peace discussions with Ukraine in 2022 and early 2023.

This transition signals a shift towards a more civilian-oriented management approach in the Defense Ministry, a change analysts believe is influenced by Belousov, especially in light of the substantial challenges faced by traditional military leadership during the early stages of the Ukraine invasion.

Belousov introduced Osmakov to fellow defense ministers from former Soviet republics during the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Defense Ministers meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as reported by the state-run TASS news agency.

The conference, attended by representatives from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, aimed to enhance military collaboration among member states and improve joint air defense and communication systems. The attendees positioned the CIS as a crucial element of regional security, highlighting a perceived shift from a U.S.-dominated global order to a «multipolar» world.

Agreements signed during the meeting are intended to broaden collaborative defense efforts and update shared military capabilities throughout the post-Soviet area.

Fomin’s exit follows a significant reshuffle in the Defense Ministry last year, which saw the replacement of longtime minister Sergei Shoigu by Belousov and the arrest of several high-ranking generals on corruption allegations.