Putin is restructuring his army around drones and logistics

Since the dismissal of Sergei Shoigu in May 2024, the Kremlin has been carrying out numerous appointments and purges within the Ministry of Defense. Behind these reshuffles lies a dual ambition: to adapt the Russian army to the demands of a protracted war and to tighten presidential control over the military hierarchy.

The reorganization of the Russian military is accelerating. Vladimir Putin recently convened Defense Ministry officials to establish two clear priorities: strengthening the supply chain and structuring the drone sector. The official statement from the Russian presidency reports that the head of state called for "a reliable and regular supply of everything troops need," as well as "coordinated work between the Ministry of Defense and the military-industrial complex."

In the field of drones, Putin stated that these systems "have established themselves as one of the key elements of modern warfare." The appointment of Colonel General Denis Liamine to head the Drone Systems Forces translates this priority into action: Moscow seeks to institutionalize a domain that has become crucial in the Ukrainian conflict.

These choices are part of a broader movement that began after Shoigu's departure. Since May 2024, a series of arrests and dismissals have targeted military officials associated with the former minister. According to analysts, the FSB plays a central role in these proceedings, primarily targeting officers linked to the "Shoigu era," who are accused of inefficiency and corruption. What some observers describe as a systemic purge aims to dismantle an inherited network of influence, rather than punish isolated failures.

The CEPA analysis center describes a "profound upheaval" at the top of the Russian military, where technocratic profiles are gradually replacing career generals in strategic positions. These new officials are tasked with overseeing resources, production, and relations with the defense industry. The appointment of Andrei Belousov to the Ministry of Defense illustrates this trend: an economist by training, with no military background, he is responsible for streamlining spending, procurement, and cooperation with the industrial sector.

The threat of Prigozhin's rebellion in 2023 remains a backdrop. Several analysts link the current reshuffle to the Kremlin's desire to prevent the emergence of autonomous power centers within the military. By relying on the security services and technocrats, Putin seeks to prevent any other actor from establishing an independent base of influence.

The restructuring thus combines two dimensions that are difficult to separate. Operationally, it addresses the needs of a war of attrition: drones, logistics, and industrial production. Politically, it aims to concentrate command around the presidency, marginalizing inherited networks and placing loyalists in key positions. The appointments of Beloussov and Liamine, viewed together, reveal the extent of a transformation that affects both the organization of the war and the architecture of Russian power.