Putin Replaces Governors of War-Ravaged Belgorod and Bryansk Regions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced the governors of the border regions of Belgorod and Bryansk, installing a military general and a former official from occupied Ukraine to lead these war-affected areas. Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod and Alexander Bogomaz of Bryansk, both in office since before the 2022 invasion and under Western sanctions, stepped down at their own request. Gladkov’s departure follows weeks of speculation and an extended vacation. He is succeeded by Alexander Shuvaev, a decorated army general with combat experience in Ukraine, Syria, and Georgia, who was recently part of the Kremlin’s 'Time of Heroes' program. Yegor Kovalchuk, formerly the head of the Russian-backed administration in Luhansk, was appointed as the interim governor of Bryansk. The reshuffle occurs just months before regional elections in September, reflecting a common Kremlin strategy known as 'gubernatorpad' to replace officials ahead of voting cycles. This move leaves Alexander Gusev of Voronezh as the only pre-invasion governor remaining in a region bordering Ukraine. The changes highlight the Kremlin's increasing reliance on military figures and administrators from occupied territories to manage frontline regions amidst ongoing conflict.