Who has greatest influence on Putin and his decisions: Ukraine's chief spy Budanov
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Despite the reshuffling in the Russian leadership, key positions remain unchanged. The role of former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has significantly diminished, while Nikolai Patrushev continues to maintain influence, according to the Head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov.
Asked about who currently influences Russian President Vladimir Putin the most and whether the political situation in Russia has changed significantly Budanov replied, "Nothing has changed. The only thing is that Shoigu's role has greatly decreased. At the same time, Patrushev's position has remained almost unchanged."
He emphasized that the position of Secretary of the Russian Security Council remains key in Russian power, but Shoigu has been limited in influence. Budanov also pointed out that Putin's assistant, Nikolai Patrushev's office, is located directly in the Kremlin, which underscores his status.
"Shoigu did not become Patrushev. He can't even appoint his deputies. He works fine, but only as a technocrat handling bureaucratic and organizational issues," Budanov summarized.
Who is Patrushev?
Nikolai Patrushev is one of the most influential security officials in Russia, a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin. He headed the FSB (Federal Security Service of Russia) from 1999 to 2008, after which he became Secretary of the Russian Security Council, holding this position until 2024.
He is considered a key architect of modern Russian national security policy and an ideologue of the Kremlin's hardline approach. Patrushev is known for his belief in conspiratorial thinking and theories about "external threats" to Russia, which shape many of the Kremlin's decisions.
After the reshuffling in 2024, Patrushev maintained his influence in the security bloc, although he did not officially receive a new position. His son, Dmitry Patrushev, is Russia's Minister of Agriculture and one of the possible successors to Putin in the future. Nikolai Patrushev remains part of the inner circle that defines Russia's strategic course, particularly regarding the war against Ukraine and relations with the West.
Who is Shoigu?
Sergei Shoigu is a Russian military and political figure who served as Minister of Defense for 12 years (2012–2024). Before this, he led the Ministry of Emergency Situations for over a decade, making him one of the most recognizable officials in Russia.
During his tenure, the Russian army underwent major reforms and military campaigns, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
He was considered close to Putin, although his actual influence in the military sphere was questioned due to the dominance of the General Staff.
Following leadership changes in Russia, in 2024 Shoigu lost his position as Minister of Defense and was appointed Secretary of the Russian Security Council, effectively a demotion. His new role is significantly more limited than his predecessors and he was not even able to appoint his own deputies. This indicates a reduction in his influence in the political system, although he remains part of the ruling elite.
