https://www.yahoo.com/news/wild-kremlin-...43167.html
The press is treating these actions as a belated realization that there were immense problems in the Defense Ministry. Optically, this is what Putin wants to convey. Obviously, Putin was well aware there were problems in the Defense Ministry. Even if he two years ago didn't realize that, after the first 6 months of war, he certainly did. For him, it is necessary that the military remain "quiescent" and that nobody in the Defense organization be competent enough to attempt Putin's removal. Putting non-military individuals in that position is potentially a good way to do that. The military will not easily accept being "led" at the highest levels by civilians. Obviously Putin hasn't been relying on the people he has just dismissed. He has another "work around" to directly control the actual strategic (and probably tactical) war-fighting. Putin himself probably has made many strategic and even tactical decisions, as did Hitler and Stalin. In general, the record of such direct control from the top is not good.
The problem with all this is that Putin still can't allow the concentration of too much power in the hands of a competent organization. If he does, that organization is by its very existence a threat to him. This ensures that Russia will always have an arguably corrupt and inefficient military. Putin has to execute a balancing act where it is inefficient enough and corrupt enough it won't create a threat to Putin but is at the same time competent enough to execute his will. This is a difficult task to pull off.
The press is treating these actions as a belated realization that there were immense problems in the Defense Ministry. Optically, this is what Putin wants to convey. Obviously, Putin was well aware there were problems in the Defense Ministry. Even if he two years ago didn't realize that, after the first 6 months of war, he certainly did. For him, it is necessary that the military remain "quiescent" and that nobody in the Defense organization be competent enough to attempt Putin's removal. Putting non-military individuals in that position is potentially a good way to do that. The military will not easily accept being "led" at the highest levels by civilians. Obviously Putin hasn't been relying on the people he has just dismissed. He has another "work around" to directly control the actual strategic (and probably tactical) war-fighting. Putin himself probably has made many strategic and even tactical decisions, as did Hitler and Stalin. In general, the record of such direct control from the top is not good.
The problem with all this is that Putin still can't allow the concentration of too much power in the hands of a competent organization. If he does, that organization is by its very existence a threat to him. This ensures that Russia will always have an arguably corrupt and inefficient military. Putin has to execute a balancing act where it is inefficient enough and corrupt enough it won't create a threat to Putin but is at the same time competent enough to execute his will. This is a difficult task to pull off.