Report: War veteran set to replace Belgorod Region governor as Putin prepares leadership change
Alexander Shuvaev, a major general and deputy governor of the Irkutsk Region, will be appointed acting governor of the Belgorod Region following the expected resignation of Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Belgorod-based news outlet Pepel reported, without disclosing its source.
The independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe also reported, citing its own source, that Shuvaev will replace Gladkov — possibly as soon as April 13. The information has not been confirmed.
A Meduza source close to Russia’s Presidential Administration said the decision on Gladkov’s resignation cannot yet be considered final, noting that his approval ratings in the region remain high, though they have slipped.
Shuvaev has served as deputy governor of the Irkutsk Region since January 2026. Before that, he participated in the war in Ukraine. A native of the Belgorod Region, Shuvaev was awarded the title of Hero of Russia during the war, along with the Order for Services to the Fatherland, 4th degree, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, three Orders of Courage, and the Suvorov Medal.
In 2025, Shuvaev was among the participants in the presidential program “Time of Heroes,” designed to prepare war veterans for leadership positions in government.
The Russian business daily Vedomosti first reported on Gladkov’s possible resignation on April 6. One of the paper’s sources said that support for the authorities in the Belgorod Region was “not the best” due to a decline in quality of life compared to earlier times, and that “it makes sense to rotate leadership if the opportunity exists.”
Gladkov, 57, has served as governor of the Belgorod Region since 2021.
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