Russia's next defence minister will just be another of Putin's puppets, Shapps says

The Defence Secretary has said his new Russian counterpart will be just another of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "puppets".

Grant Shapps was speaking amid reports that Mr Putin is set to move his long-time ally Sergei Shoigu into another role, suggesting former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov could take his place.

Mr Shapps said Mr Shoigu had "overseen over 355,000 casualties amongst his own soldiers and mass civilian suffering with an illegal campaign in Ukraine".

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"Russia needs a defence minister who would undo that disastrous legacy and end the invasion – but all they'll get is another of Putin’s puppets," he said.

Mr Shoigu, who has been defence minister since 2012, is set to become the secretary of Russia's national security council.

The reshuffle of the military command is the most significant Mr Putin has undertaken since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

The announcement came amid Russia's renewed armoured push across the border in northeastern Ukraine.

The move also comes after the UK expelled Russia's defence attache after the Home Secretary described him as an "undeclared military intelligence officer".