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- Russian President Vladimir Putin is replacing his defense minister with a civilian economist.
- Andrei Belousov will lead Russia's military-industrial complex as Putin prepares for a protracted war.
- The move shows Russia's wartime economy has become a key pillar of growth.
Russian President Vladimir Putin replaced his defense minister with a civilian economist on Sunday. The move has surprised analysts and signaled to some observers that Putin has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine any time soon.