Putin Appoints Former Separatist Commander to Security Council

President Vladimir Putin on Friday appointed Lieutenant Colonel Artyom Zhoga, currently the Kremlin’s envoy to the Urals Federal District, to Russia’s National Security Council.
Zhoga, a former military officer from the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, gained prominence last year after publicly urging Putin to seek re-election in the 2025 presidential race.
Earlier this month, Putin tapped Zhoga, a Ukraine war veteran, as his envoy to the Urals Federal District, a region critical to Russia’s vast military-industrial sector.
Zhoga’s appointment makes him one of 21 non-permanent members of Russia’s Security Council, a key executive body overseeing national security and strategic policy. The council consists of 13 permanent members, including leaders of major security agencies and high-ranking legislative and executive officials.
Putin chairs the Security Council, with former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as secretary and former President Dmitry Medvedev serving as deputy secretary. Experts describe the Security Council as an influential body that both signals major policy shifts and mediates inter-agency disputes.
Zhoga is the highest-profile Kremlin appointee to emerge from the “Time of Heroes” professional training program, launched following Putin’s pledge to elevate Ukraine war veterans as Russia’s “new elite.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.