President Dmitry Medvedev has appointed Vladimir Popovkin as first deputy defense minister and Sergei Karakayev as commander of the strategic nuclear missile forces, Interfax reported Tuesday.
Popovkin, a former deputy defense minister, replaces Alexander Kolmakov, who was dismissed for unspecified reasons. Popovkin will oversee the procurement of military equipment, which will require cooperation with the Federal Arms Procurement Agency, which on Friday received a new head, Nadezhda Sinikova, a former tax official.
Karakayev, 49, was chief of staff of the strategic nuclear missile forces before being appointed to his new job, replacing Andrei Shvaichenko, 57, who spent less than a year in office. Shvaichenko was removed because of his age, Interfax reported.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.