Andrei Belousov
Андрей Белоусов
🇷🇺 RussiaActive
Role
Minister of Defence of Russia
Rank
Civilian (Minister)
War Period
May 2024 – present
Andrei Belousov, an economist and former First Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed Minister of Defence of Russia in May 2024, replacing Sergei Shoigu. His appointment signalled a Kremlin intent to integrate Russia's wartime economy more closely with the defence ministry and to improve efficiency in military spending and procurement amid a war of attrition. He is a civilian technocrat rather than a career military officer.
Key Operations
- —Defence ministry reorganisation toward wartime economy (2024–present)
- —Military procurement and budget efficiency reforms
- —Defence-industrial output expansion
Notable
Belousov's appointment as a civilian economist to lead the Defence Ministry reflected the Kremlin's framing of the war as a long-term economic and industrial contest requiring tighter financial management of military resources.
Other Russia Commanders
Vladimir Putin
ActiveSupreme Commander-in-Chief
Valery Gerasimov
ActiveChief of the General Staff / Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Sergei Surovikin
DismissedFormer Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin
KIAWagner Group Founder & Commander
Alexander Dvornikov
DismissedFormer Overall Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Mikhail Mizintsev
ActiveDirector of Russia's National Defense Management Center; commander of Mariupol siege
Mikhail Teplinsky
ActiveCommander of Russian Airborne Forces (VDV)
Rustam Muradov
DismissedFormer Commander of the Eastern Military District
Aleksandr Lapin
DismissedCommander of the Central Military District ("Group Center")
Andrei Mordvichev
ActiveCommander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army; later Commander of "Group South"
Oleg Salyukov
ActiveCommander-in-Chief of Russian Ground Forces
Aleksandr Zhuravlyov
ActiveCommander, Western Military District; Commander, "Group North" (2024)
Sergei Shoigu
ReplacedFormer Minister of Defence of Russia; Secretary of the Security Council
Yunus-bek Yevkurov
ActiveDeputy Minister of Defence of Russia
Oleg Tsokov
KIADeputy Commander of the Southern Military District
Gennady Anashkin
ActiveCommander of the "Group South" forces
Related Battles & Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Andrei Belousov?
Andrei Belousov, an economist and former First Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed Minister of Defence of Russia in May 2024, replacing Sergei Shoigu. His appointment signalled a Kremlin intent to integrate Russia's wartime economy more closely with the defence ministry and to improve efficiency in military spending and procurement amid a war of attrition. He is a civilian technocrat rather than a career military officer.
What is Andrei Belousov's role in the Ukraine war?
Andrei Belousov (Civilian (Minister)) served as Minister of Defence of Russia on the Russia side. Service period: May 2024 – present. Current status: Active.
What key operations was Andrei Belousov involved in?
Defence ministry reorganisation toward wartime economy (2024–present). Military procurement and budget efficiency reforms. Defence-industrial output expansion.
What is notable about Andrei Belousov in the context of the Ukraine war?
Belousov's appointment as a civilian economist to lead the Defence Ministry reflected the Kremlin's framing of the war as a long-term economic and industrial contest requiring tighter financial management of military resources.
Is Andrei Belousov still active in the Ukraine war?
Yes, Andrei Belousov is currently active as of the latest available data (period: May 2024 – present).