The decision to replace Sergei Shoigu as Defense Minister demonstrates the desperation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Vedant Patel. According to him, replacing Shoigu with the civilian economist Andrey Belousov indicates Putin’s desperation in attempting to continue the war against Ukraine. Thus, the Kremlin leader aims to prepare his country for an economic war and seeks to better use the defense budget. What preceded it Yesterday, on May 12, Vladimir Putin proposed to appoint Andrey Belousov, who was previously the First Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Economic Poli…