Putin bids farewell to the Toilet: key takeaways from today's personnel changes at the Ministry of Defense

Putin dismissed the head of the unmanned forces. Yuri Vaganov, who was criticized in the z-community and called "Yura Toilet".

How to notes According to the "We Can Explain" project, Vaganov had no military training and had no connection to the army before the war with Ukraine—he sold plumbing fixtures. In March 2022, he began volunteering to deliver humanitarian aid to the front, and later moved into drone supply.

Already in October 2025, Vaganov became an adviser to the Deputy Minister of Defense Alexey Krivoruchko, and in December, he became the commander of the newly created unmanned systems forces (z-bloggers suggested that he simply bought this position). 

According to war correspondents, Vaganov supplied The army received low-quality drones that periodically exploded upon launch, injuring and killing Russian servicemen.

Also was approvedthat Vaganov was recruiting operators from the front lines into the unmanned forces, thereby leaving the fighting units without reconnaissance and cover.

Instead of Vaganov, who held his post for only eight months, the unmanned systems forces were headed by the Chief of Staff of the Central Military District Denis Lyamin - he was tasked with “bringing their formation to completion.”

Putin also concentrated “all the rear services of the Ministry of Defense” in one place – now a single service under the leadership of a colonel general will handle the procurement and supply of weapons. Valery Solodchuk, who led the troops of the Central Military District. The head of the Vostok group has been appointed to his position. Andrey Ivanaev, and he, in turn, was replaced by the general who led the headquarters Petr Bulgarev. 

According to Putin, the personnel changes are due to "the need to improve the department in connection with the needs of the war in Ukraine."