Meet the 'kid buddies' who are part of Putin's key team

More than two years after the start of the war in Ukraine, Putin used these changes to signal that he wanted to eliminate waste and corruption within the ministry and more effectively exploit Russia’s war economy to meet the needs of soldiers at the front.

Anna Tsivileva, Dmitry Patrushev, Boris Kovalchuk and Roman Rotenberg. Reuters

The dismissal of former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came as a surprise to many, especially at a time when it seems unlikely that Moscow will reverse its war in Ukraine.

Andrei Belousov, an economist, replaced Shoigu as Russian defense minister in May. Some experts believe that Putin’s major shake-up in the military leadership could be the result of infighting at the highest positions of power.

More than two years after the start of the war in Ukraine, Putin used the changes to signify that he wanted to eliminate waste and corruption within the ministry and more effectively harness the Russian war economy to meet the needs of soldiers on the front.

Today, the Russian president named his “close relatives” and friends to his A team. Here’s a look at everyone who made the list:

Anna Tsivileva: She is the daughter of Putin’s late cousin and has worked as a psychiatrist for some time. Tsivileva has been named Russia’s deputy defense minister, whose responsibilities will include improving social assistance and housing for military personnel. Her husband is also in the cabinet and is Russia’s energy minister.
Dmitry Patrushev: A former Russian agriculture minister and son of Nikolai Patrushev, the country’s former security council head, Dmitry is Russia’s deputy prime minister.
Boris Kovalchuk: Son of media and banking magnate Yuri Kovalchuk, one of Putin’s closest friends, Boris will now take charge of the Russian audit chamber. He is the new deputy head of the Presidential Oversight Directorate. Reports suggest that Boris resigned as CEO of power company Inter RAO days before his appointment to the Kremlin.
Pavel Fradkov: Pavel is the son of former Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and was appointed Deputy Defense Minister. He will work alongside Tsivileva and Oleg Savelyev and oversee the management of military-related real estate, land and construction.
Romain Rotenberg: He is the head of the Russian ice hockey federation and coach of two of the country’s most successful teams.

With the contribution of agencies

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