page_title: Sergey Shoygu
section_title: Minister of Defence
hierarchical_section_title: Sergey Shoygu / Minister of Defence
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Визит Министра обороны России генерала армии Сергея Шойгу в Токио на переговоры с японским коллегой Томоми Инадой (г. Токио, Япония)
context_page_description: Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu is a Russian politician and General of the Army who has served as Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the CIS since 2012.
  Previously, Shoygu was Minister of Emergency Situations from 1991 to 2012, and briefly served as Governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012. Shoygu holds the military rank of General of the Army. Shoygu is also the President of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.
context_section_description: On 6 November 2012, Shoygu was appointed Minister of Defence when Putin ousted his longtime ally, Anatoliy Serdyukov. According to expert Sergey Smirnov, the so-called "Petersburg group" siloviki of Sergei Ivanov, Sergey Chemezov and Viktor Ivanov wanted one of its associates to take Serdyukov's place at the Defense Ministry.  But Putin didn't want to strengthen them, so he took the neutral figure Shoygu.
  On 7 November 2012, the minister decided to resurrect the tradition of Suvorov and Nakhimov cadets participating in the 9 May parade. In July 2013 Shoygu ordered commanders to begin every morning in the barracks with a rendition of the Russian Anthem, to compile an obligatory military-patriotic book reading list and take the preparation of demob albums under their control. In August that year he ordered to dress all Defense Ministry civilian workers, other staff and management employees in so-called "office suits".
  Shoygu stated on 26 February 2014 that Russia planned to sign agreements with Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries either to house permanent military bases and/or to house airplane refuel stations in those countries.
  In July 2014, Ukraine opened a criminal case against Shoygu; he was accused of helping to form "illegal military groups" in Eastern Ukraine who at the time fought against the Ukrainian army.
  At the initiative of Shoygu, Arctic units were created, intended to ensure the safety of Russia's Arctic region.
  On 30 September 2015, Russia conducted a military operation in Syria. The operation was carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces, with the support of the Russian Navy. 7 October 2015 President Vladimir Putin, during the took place in Sochi working meeting with Shoygu, summing up the first week of operation, once again gave a high appreciation of the work of the Ministry of Defense: to the Ministry actions in general, and combat operations conducted by the Russian pilots of Syria Air Group, which applied with air strikes against predetermined objectives, and seamen of the Caspian Flotilla, which carried out the firing of cruise missiles 3M-54 Klub from the Caspian Sea and successfully struck all the targets set.
  Shoygu was re-appointed to this office in 2018 (in Medvedev second government) and 2020 (in Mishustin government).
caption: Shoygu with Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada. 20 March 2017
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