Shoigu is replacing Nikolai Patrushev, who has been the council's secretary since 2008.Shoigu has faced criticism from Russia's pro-war hawks for mishandling the war effort in Ukraine. However, it is not clear if his dismissal is a demotion since the position of the security council's secretary is considered to be among the most powerful in the country. Meanwhile, Belousov is known as a supporter of boosting military spending and mobilizing Russia's economy for the war effort. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Belousov's task is "to integrate the military-industrial complex into the country's economy."Peskov also said that Putin had decided to appoint a civilian as defense minister since the "ministry should be open to innovation and progressive ideas."Belousov was Russia's economy minister in 2012-2013, an aide to Putin in 2013-2020, and first deputy prime minister in 2020-2024.Ukrainian drones hit one Russian oil refinery after anotherUkraine faces a challenging problem: how to stop a resurgent Moscow in its tracks long enough to rotate the troops, resupply, and fortify.