Reshuffle at Russian Defense Ministry

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Arkady Bakhin, Commander of the Western Military District, as the First Deputy Defense Minister to replace Alexander Sukhorukov (in office since September 2011).

Commander of the Aerospace Defense Lieutenant-General Oleg Ostapenko has become a Deputy Defense Minister.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov was earlier replaced by Sergey Shoygu.