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Putin has begun a 'purge' of Shoigu’s inner circle and is preparing to promote a ‘failed’ general – ISW

Putin has begun a 'purge' of Shoigu’s inner circle and is preparing to promote a ‘failed’ general – ISW

19 May 2026, 16:00

Putin has begun a 'purge' of Shoigu’s inner circle and is preparing to promote a ‘failed’ general – ISW — Sergei Shoigu

The Russian dictator is carrying out a 'purge' of supporters of Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu. He may replace the head of the State Duma’s Defence Committee with General Alexander Lapin, who is known for his failures in the war.

This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts, citing Russian sources, note that Colonel-General Andrei Kartapolov may be removed from his post as chairman of the State Duma’s Defence Committee. His place is likely to be taken by Colonel-General Alexander Lapin.

It is noted that Lapin’s candidacy is currently being considered by the ruling United Russia party, although a final decision has not yet been made. According to preliminary data, he may stand as a candidate on the party list from Tatarstan. It is reported that following his resignation from military posts, he became an adviser to the head of the region, Rustam Minnikhanov.

The current committee chairman, Kartapolov, may not stand in the next election. A source at the Russian Ministry of Defence told the publication that the ministry had repeatedly reacted with “surprise” to his public statements.

Furthermore, sources suggested that the party would not field Kartapolov in the Moscow Region, where he won in 2021. The Russian general himself stated on 18 May that he intends to run for a second term in the State Duma.

"Purging" Shoigu’s people

The removal of Kartapolov, who is linked to Shoigu, is consistent with Putin’s campaign to weaken the influence of the former defence minister.

“The possible replacement of Kartapolov with Lapin, if confirmed, would be a continuation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s practice of rotating high-ranking commanders into other posts despite their poor results on the battlefield,” analysts noted.

Colonel-General Alexander Lapin commanded the Russian Federation’s Central Military District at the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Following a series of failures, he took up the post of Chief of Staff of the Russian Ground Forces in 2023, and in 2024 he headed the Leningrad Military District and the Northern Military District. In August 2025, it emerged that he had been replaced in these posts by Colonel-General Yevgeny Nikiforov.

As a reminder, Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear exercises following drone strikes on Moscow.

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