Putin backs proposed Russian government reshuffle

President Vladimir Putin on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, backed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s proposals for government personnel changes. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said they met that morning on socio-economic development and Mishustin presented the proposals. “These proposals received the support of President Putin,” Peskov said. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov is to become a deputy prime minister while remaining finance minister, a post held since 2011. Andrei Nikitin was nominated deputy prime minister overseeing transport development; Rosaviatsiya head Dmitry Yadrov was nominated to succeed him after Vitaly Savelyev resigned following election to the State Duma. Dmitry Grigorenko left as chief of government staff after requesting a transfer, per Mishustin’s spokesman; Irina Okladnikova was nominated to replace him and would be the first woman in that post if confirmed. Changes require State Duma approval. The move follows September’s parliamentary election that gave United Russia its largest-ever majority, amid a rising budget deficit, higher taxes and elevated interest rates. The Moscow Times called the reshuffle major and cited Farida Rustamova saying it would replace nearly half of deputy prime ministers. Reuters-sourced reports described it as fairly minor. Duma leadership was alerted over the weekend; Volodin said confirmation votes would be Wednesday.