According to the ISW report, during the meeting, A. Dyumin explained to V. Putin the contribution of the Tula region to the country’s war against Ukraine. Three topics received the most attention: support and accommodation for participants in military operations in Ukraine, improvement of the Russian defense industrial base, and improvement of the medical system of the Tula region.
Analysts emphasize that A. Dyumin’s report looks like an attempt to regain the favor of the Russian president, which he lost at the end of June 2023 when the leader of “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin tried to stage a coup.
In 2022 and 2023, A. Diuminas repeatedly took the side of J. Prigožin, hoping to replace S. Šoigu as the Minister of Defense.
ISW analysts claim that V. Putin deliberately publicized the fact of the meeting with the governor of the Tula region – this was done after the scandalous arrest of S. Shoigu’s deputy Timur Ivanov on April 24 and before the inauguration planned for May 7. Allegedly, V. Putin wants to send a message to S. Shoigu and humiliate him because of the unfulfilled military goals set by the Kremlin.
This meeting has led to many discussions in the Russian information space: many bloggers and political commentators note that the conversation between V. Putin and the governor of Tuva took place at a very important time – between the detention of T. Ivanov and the changes expected after the inauguration. Sources inside Russia speculate that the Kremlin may appoint A. Dyumin to a new position in Russia’s military-industrial complex.
On May 1, S. Shoigu himself said that both qualitative and quantitative changes in armaments and military equipment are necessary for Russia, they are necessary “to maintain the necessary pace of attack”. Such words can be seen as a direct attack on specific Russian political figures.
A source in Russia assures that S. Shoigu, in response to T. Ivanov’s arrest, criticized Denis Manturov, Rostech and the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev.
S. Shoigu and T. Ivanov had very close ties. His detention and A. Dyumin’s sudden return to the foreground can only mean one thing – that the Kremlin is clearly not satisfied with S. Shoigu’s work. Nevertheless, one of the Russian sources notes that S. Shoigu’s resignation in 2024 is very unlikely.
The meeting between V. Putin and A. Dyumin may also mean that the Russian president is, possibly, the responsible person who made the decision to detain T. Ivanov.
ISW observes that Putin regularly rotates officials and military commanders who favor him, thus stimulating different factions and achieving his goals.
Tags: Analysts Putins muchdebated meeting sends clear message
