Submitted for analysis

The ex-head of the General Staff, Army General Nikolai Makarov was appointed leading analytic at the Office of General Inspectors, RIA Novosti reports with reference to a senior representative of the Ministry of Defense. Earlier, he reported that Makarov was appointed adviser to the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu. Makarov, fired from military service shortly after the resignation of Anatoly Serdyukov, was, according to the media, his “right hand”.

"The order on the appointment of Makarov was dated January 26, 2013, the document was signed by Deputy Minister Nikolai Pankov," the agency’s interlocutor added. The Service of the General Inspectors was formed in 2008 for "the maximum use of knowledge and experience of veterans-warriors in the interests of Russia's defense capabilities." Its members are engaged in the development of such conceptual documents as a military doctrine and the development strategy of the Armed Forces.

On February 27, President Vladimir Putin at an expanded meeting of the College of the Ministry of Defense said that there should be no endless revisions of previously made defense decisions. “You can’t follow the templates, however, there should not be constant shuffles, endless revisions of previously made decisions, especially since we are now reaching the stage when it is precisely the subtle grinding of all the mechanisms of the military machine,” he said.

Putin also noted that the combat training program should not be “not parquet” when the future educational alarm is known for six months, but as close as possible to the real conditions of modern battle.

On November 27, at the first meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense held by Shoig, it was decided that the army reform begun by Serdyukov would continue, and only the “nuances” would be adjusted. In particular, changes to the state defense order are made now. “One of the main tasks that is facing us is to make minimal changes to the terms of reference, according to which the industry creates samples of weapons and military equipment. This uncertainty often delayed the deadlines for the delivery of products,” the emergence of the words of an unnamed source in the military department quoted.

On November 9, Putin appointed Valery Gerasimov by the head of the General Staff and the first deputy defense minister. At the same time, the president identified the problem related to frequent changes in the requirements from the Ministry of Defense to industry. “We must focus on promising funds, but still a certain stability is needed here,” the president said, parting the new head of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. “I really expect that you will be able to build a stable, good partnership with our leading industrial enterprises in the field of defense industry.”

Makarov took the post of head of the General Staff in June 2008. He is known for criticizing the development of Russian tanks, which, in his opinion, did not ensure the safety of the life of military personnel, unlike foreign developments. Makarov twice extended the term of the contract, for the last time in June 2012 by three years.