According to analysts, the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, and more often appoints economists for leadership positions in the Ministry of Defense in order to improve the defense and industrial base of Russia.
The analysis of the Institute of War Study (ISW), which was published on June 17, indicates that Putin has removed four Deputy Minister of Defense and appointed "close relative" by Anna Tsiper and Pavel Fradkov, the son of the former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Leonid Gornin was appointed first Deputy Minister of Defense. Tsipleva is a cousin of Putin, the wife of Minister of Energy Sergey Tsipyev and the head of the Fatherland Defenders Foundation, created at the Kremlin's initiative. Fradkov, in turn, is the son of the former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Director of Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov, and he held the position of first deputy head of the Presidential Administration since 2021.
According to ISW experts, such personnel decisions indicate that Putin seeks to strengthen the impact in important industries through the appointment of persons who have ties with their family and relatives of other high -ranking officials.
Analysts also noted that the appointment of economists to management positions in the defense department testify to Putin's strategy for the preparation of possible successors of their regime among their loved ones and children of other influential officials.
