Russia's Putin replaces defence minister Shoigu in post-inauguration reshuffle

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced Sergei Shoigu as defence minister in a cabinet shakeup that comes as the leader begins his fifth term in office.

On Sunday, Putin signed a decree appointing Shoigu as secretary of Russia's Security Council.

The appointment was announced shortly after Putin proposed Andrei Belousov to become the country’s defence minister in place of Shoigu.

In line with Russian law, the entire Russian cabinet resigned last Tuesday following Putin’s inauguration in the Kremlin, and most members have been widely expected to keep their jobs, while Shoigu's fate had appeared uncertain.

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The announcement of Shoigu’s new role came as 13 people were reported dead and 20 more wounded in Russia’s border city of Belgorod, where a 10-story apartment building partially collapsed after what Russian officials said was Ukrainian shelling.

Ukraine hasn’t commented on the incident.

Belousov's candidacy will need to be approved by Russia's upper house in parliament, the Federation Council.

The arrest of Ivanov was widely interpreted as an attack on Shoigu and a possible precursor of his dismissal, despite his close personal ties with Putin.

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