Sunday's announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin is replacing Sergei Shoigu as his defense minister was met with speculation and jokes on social media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a surprise new defense minister, nominating civilian Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister who specializes in economics, for the job more than two years into the Ukraine war,

In line with Russian law, the entire Russian Cabinet resigned Tuesday following Putin's glittering inauguration in the Kremlin.