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)