Russia: Putin appoints Shoigu as Secretary of the Security Council 0 Russia Putin appoints Shoigu as Secretary of the Security Council More on the topic shortly. photo© —/dpa infographic/dpa The Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired National Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. He will be replaced by the previously dismissed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as the Kremlin announced in Moscow on Sunday evening. dpa #Subjectssource site-3