In its latest reshuffle, Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Nikolai Patrushev and Alexei Dyumin as Kremlin aides. A long-term close ally of Putin, Dyumin will be overseeing the defence industry, while Patrushev will be serving as the head of Russia’s Security Council.
Patrushev replaced Sergei Shoigu as the secretary of Russia's Security Council.
Kremlin on Tuesday said that Maxim Oreshkin was appointed as the deputy chief of staff. While Dmitry Peskov will be remaining as the press secretary. Putin left Anton Vaino as his chief of staff, along with Alexei Gromov and Sergei Kiriyenko as first deputy chiefs of staff.
Who are the newly appointed aides?
Patrushev is one of Putin's loyalists who served him since the 1970s in St Petersburg when Russia's second city was still known as Leningrad.
He had worked with Putin in the KGB during the communist era. He replaced him as head of its successor organisation, the Federal Security Service (FSB), from 1999 to 2008. He had served as secretary of the Russian Security Council for 14 years as well.
Patrushev's son, Dmitry was promoted to deputy prime minister post as well. Reportedly, Dmitry is seen by some as a possible successor to Putin.
Meanwhile, Alexei Dyumin, former Putin's bodyguard and governor of the Tula region was also made an aide to the president.
Dyumin will oversee the defence industry, while Mr Patrushev will have a remit for shipbuilding, Putin's spokesman was quoted by state news agency TASS as saying.
