Sergei Shoigu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sergei Shoigu
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Сергей Шойгу
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Official portrait, 2014
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| Secretary of the Security Council | |
| Assumed office 12 May 2024 |
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| Chairman | Vladimir Putin |
| Preceded by | Nikolai Patrushev |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 6 November 2012 – 12 May 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| First Deputy | Arkady Bakhin Ruslan Tsalikov |
| Preceded by | Anatoly Serdyukov |
| Succeeded by | Andrey Belousov |
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the CIS | |
| Assumed office 11 December 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Anatoly Serdyukov |
| Governor of Moscow Oblast | |
| In office 11 May 2012 – 6 November 2012 |
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| Deputy | Ruslan Tsalikov |
| Preceded by | Boris Gromov |
| Succeeded by | Ruslan Tsalikov (acting) |
| Leader of United Russia | |
| In office 1 December 2001 – 27 November 2004 Serving with Yury Luzhkov and Mintimer Shaimiev
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| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Boris Gryzlov |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Russia | |
| In office 10 January 2000 – 18 May 2000 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Leader of Unity | |
| In office 15 October 1999 – 1 December 2001 |
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| Minister of Emergency Situations | |
| In office 17 April 1991 – 11 May 2012 |
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| President |
List
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| Prime Minister |
List
Ivan Silayev
Oleg Lobov (acting) Boris Yeltsin (as President) Yegor Gaidar (acting) Viktor Chernomyrdin Sergey Kiriyenko Viktor Chernomyrdin (acting) Yevgeny Primakov Sergei Stepashin Vladimir Putin Mikhail Kasyanov Viktor Khristenko (acting) Mikhail Fradkov Viktor Zubkov Vladimir Putin Viktor Zubkov (acting) Dmitry Medvedev |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Vladimir Puchkov |
| Member of the Security Council of Russia | |
| In office November 2012 – 12 May 2024 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 May 1955 Chadan, Tuvan Autonomous Oblast, Soviet Union |
| Political party |
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| Spouse | Irina Shoigu |
| Children | 2, including Yulia |
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| Relatives | Larisa Shoigu (sister) |
| Alma mater | Krasnoyarsk Polytechnical Institute |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Branch/service | Military Council of the Civil Defence Troops |
| Years of service | 1991–present |
| Rank | General of the Army |
| Battles/wars |
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Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu (born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician and military officer. He has been the Secretary of the Security Council since May 2024. Before this, he was the Minister of Defence of Russia from 2012 to 2024.
Mr. Shoigu also led the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Commonwealth of Independent States since 2012. He was the Minister of Emergency Situations for a long time, from 1991 to 2012. For a short period in 2012, he served as the Governor of Moscow Oblast.
He is a close friend and supporter of Vladimir Putin. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Shoigu. This is due to alleged war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In May 2024, Mr. Putin appointed Andrey Belousov as the new defense minister. Mr. Shoigu then took on his current role as Secretary of the Security Council.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sergei Shoigu was born on May 21, 1955. His birthplace was Chadan in the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast of the Soviet Union. His father was Kuzhuget Shoigu, a newspaper editor. His mother, Alexandra Shoigu, was from Ukraine.
Alexandra Shoigu had difficult experiences during World War II. She later became a member of the Tuva Regional Council. Kuzhuget Shoigu was an important figure in the Communist Party in Tuva.
After finishing school in Kyzyl, Shoigu went to the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute. He graduated in 1977 with a degree in civil engineering.
Early Career and Politics
For ten years, Shoigu worked on construction projects across the country. He started at lower levels and moved up to become an executive. In 1988, he began working for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Abakan.
In 1990, Shoigu moved to Moscow. He became the deputy chairman of the State Architecture and Construction Committee. His father's connections helped him get this position. He gained the trust of future president Boris Yeltsin.
Minister of Emergency Situations (1991–2012)
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In 1991, Boris Yeltsin chose Shoigu to lead the new Russian Rescue Corps. This group was in charge of rescue and disaster response. The Rescue Corps took over the Soviet civil defense system. Shoigu became the head of the State Committee for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations, and Disaster Response.
This organization was like a military group. Shoigu quickly rose through military ranks. He became a major general in 1993 and an army general in 2003. In 1994, the committee became the Ministry of Emergency Situations. This made Shoigu a government minister.
He became well-known for his hands-on approach during emergencies. These included floods, earthquakes, and acts of terrorism. Under Shoigu, the ministry's duties grew. It took over the Russian State Fire Service in 2002. This made it Russia's third-largest force.
In 1999, he became a leader of the pro-government party Unity. This party was created to support the Kremlin. Unity helped Vladimir Putin become president. In 2001, Unity joined to form the ruling United Russia party. Shoigu received Russia's highest state award, Hero of the Russian Federation, in 1999.
Governor of Moscow Oblast (2012)
After more than twenty years as Minister of Emergency Situations, Shoigu had a strong relationship with Vladimir Putin. As a reward, he was appointed Governor of Moscow Oblast in 2012. He started this role on May 11, 2012.
Minister of Defence (2012–2024)
On November 6, 2012, Mr. Putin appointed Shoigu as Minister of Defence. He replaced Anatoly Serdyukov. Serdyukov had made big changes to the Russian Armed Forces.
As defense minister, Shoigu often joined Putin on weekend trips. They would spend time in the Siberian countryside. Shoigu tried to connect more with military leaders. He wore an army general's uniform and brought back historical military units.
Shoigu continued to modernize the Russian Armed Forces. He created the Special Operations Forces Command. This group helps with quick actions in conflicts and counter-terrorism. He also worked to increase the number of professional soldiers.
In November 2012, Shoigu brought back a tradition. Suvorov and Nakhimov cadets would again take part in the 9 May parade. In July 2013, he ordered military commanders to start each morning with the Russian anthem.
In February 2014, Shoigu announced Russia's plans. They wanted to sign agreements with countries like Vietnam, Cuba, and Venezuela. These agreements would allow for military bases or airplane refueling stations.
Military Exercises and Treaties
From early 2013, Shoigu's ministry used surprise exercises. These were to check the readiness of military districts. In March 2015, Russia stopped all activities related to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
In October 2016, Shoigu hosted representatives from many countries. He stated that observers could see Russia had met its obligations for security in Europe. They also saw new weapons.
Actions Related to Ukraine
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In July 2014, Ukraine started a criminal case against Shoigu. They accused him of helping to form "illegal military groups" in Eastern Ukraine. These groups were fighting against the Ukrainian army.
In July 2016, Shoigu said Russia had placed more air defense systems in its southwest. He also said they had a "self-sufficient" group of troops in Crimea. He added that since 2013, they had formed many new military units.
In July 2018, Shoigu warned that Ukraine was not following the Minsk agreements. These agreements were signed to end the conflict in Donbas.
Actions Related to Syria
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On September 30, 2015, Russia began a military operation in Syria. The Russian Aerospace Forces carried out this operation. They had support from the Russian Navy and Bashar al-Assad's forces.
In December 2017, after saying Syria was "completely liberated" from ISIL, Putin visited the Russian base in Syria. He ordered a partial withdrawal of forces. Shoigu said the troops had already started to return.
On December 26, 2017, Shoigu stated that Russia was creating a permanent group of forces. This would be at the Tartus naval facility and the Hmeymim airbase.
In September 2018, a Russian plane was accidentally shot down by a Syrian missile. This happened during missile strikes by Israeli jets in Syria. Shoigu blamed Israel's military for the accident. He announced that Syria would receive S-300 air-defense systems.
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In August 2021, Shoigu said Russia had tested 320 new weapons during its campaign in Syria.
Role in Mishustin Government
Shoigu was reappointed as defense minister in 2020 in the Mishustin government. In August 2021, he spoke about improvements in military equipment. He said Russia was receiving many more aircraft each year. He also praised military cooperation between Russia and China.
Activities Related to the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine
On February 11, 2022, Shoigu met with UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Shoigu denied that Russia was planning an invasion of Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine. Shoigu stated the invasion's goal was to protect Russia from military threats. He claimed Western countries were using Ukraine against Russia.
On May 13, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Shoigu by phone. Austin urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
In August 2022, Shoigu said Russia did not need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He explained their main purpose is to prevent a nuclear attack. At a conference, he hosted defense ministers from many countries. He described South Africa as a "friendly state."
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Shoigu and Putin attended the Vostok-2022 military exercise. Troops from China, India, Mongolia, and other countries also participated.
On September 21, 2022, Shoigu said Russia was fighting the "collective West" and NATO. In September 2022, he claimed 5,397 Russian soldiers had died in the war. He also stated that a mobilization was happening to control "liberated territories." He said 300,000 reservists would be called up.
On October 23, 2022, Shoigu claimed Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb." This is an explosive with radioactive material. The UK, US, and French governments rejected these claims. They called them "transparently false allegations."
On November 1, 2022, Shoigu admitted that the Russian military was destroying Ukrainian energy facilities. On December 6, 2022, he said Russian forces were "inflicting massive strikes" on Ukraine.
On December 21, 2022, Shoigu stated the war in Ukraine would continue in 2023. He said victory was "inevitable." He claimed Russian troops were fighting "neo-Nazism and terrorism."
On April 18, 2023, Shoigu met with Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow. Shoigu said their military cooperation was a "stabilizing" force. They discussed expanding this cooperation.
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On April 28, 2023, he met with Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh. This was part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in New Delhi.
On June 6, 2023, Shoigu said Ukrainian "offensive attempts were thwarted." He claimed Ukraine had suffered "significant and incomparable casualties." On June 20, 2023, he stated the Ukrainian counteroffensive began on June 4. He said all 263 attacks had been unsuccessful.
In July 2023, Shoigu visited North Korea. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This was for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
On April 23, 2024, Shoigu’s deputy, Timur Ivanov, was arrested. This was for allegedly taking bribes.
Conflict with Wagner Group
In May 2023, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin criticized Shoigu. He blamed Shoigu for many Wagner casualties. Prigozhin said, "Shoigu, Gerasimov, where ... is the ammunition?"
On June 23, 2023, Prigozhin released a video. He claimed Russian government reasons for the invasion of Ukraine were based on lies. He accused the Defense Ministry of trying to deceive society and the president.
Despite these criticisms, Shoigu did not appear in public during the Wagner Group rebellion. However, on June 26, the Russian Ministry of Defence released a video. It showed Shoigu meeting Russian officers in Ukraine.
Secretary of the Security Council
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On May 12, 2024, after Mr. Putin's re-election, Shoigu became the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. He replaced Nikolai Patrushev. Experts believe this change means Mr. Putin is preparing for a long conflict in Ukraine.
On June 25, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Shoigu. This was for alleged war crimes related to missile strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
On August 5, 2024, Shoigu visited Tehran. He had high-level meetings with the new government and military leaders. On June 4 and 17, 2025, Shoigu visited Pyongyang. He met with Kim Jong-un.
Sanctions
On February 23, 2022, the European Union placed sanctions on Shoigu. They believed he supported actions that threatened Ukraine's independence. So, he was added to a list of people facing restrictions.
On February 25, 2022, the United States also added Shoigu to its list of sanctioned individuals. The UK government sanctioned him in 2022 as well.
On February 28, 2022, the Government of Canada added Shoigu to its list of sanctioned individuals. This was due to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Personal Life
Sergei Shoigu is said to speak several languages besides Russian. These include English, Japanese, Chinese, Tuvan, and Turkish.
Family
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Sergei Shoigu's parents were Kuzhuget Sereevich Shoigu and Alexandra Yakovlevna Shoigu. His father was a newspaper editor and worked in the Communist Party. His mother was a zootechnician. She was also a respected worker in agriculture.
Sergei has two sisters. One was Larisa Kuzhugetovna Shoigu, who was a member of the State Duma. The other is Irina Zakharova, a psychiatrist.
Shoigu is married to Irina Alexandrovna Shoigu. She is the president of a business tourism company. They have two daughters, Yulia (born 1977) and Kseniya (born 1991).
Hobbies
Shoigu enjoys studying history of Russia. He is especially interested in the time of Peter the Great. He collects swords and daggers from India, China, and Japan. He also enjoys bard songs and plays the guitar. He likes to do watercolor paintings and graphics. He also enjoys carpentry.
Religion
In 2008, Shoigu stated he was baptized in the Russian Orthodox Church at age five. This helped clear up rumors that he practiced shamanism or Buddhism.
In 2023, a large 12-story Buddhist monastery opened in Kyzyl. Sergei Shoigu helped start this project.
Honours
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Russian
- Hero of the Russian Federation
- Order of St Andrew with swords
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland 1st class
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland 2nd class
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland 3rd class
- Order of Alexander Nevsky
- Order of Honour
- Order for Personal Courage (USSR)
- Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
- Medal Defender of a Free Russia
- Many other medals and honorary titles.
Foreign
- Medal of the Order of Courage (Abkhazia)
- First Class of the Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan)
- Medal of the Order "Danaker" (Kyrgyzstan)
- Military Class of the Order pro Merito Melitensi
- Medal of the Order of the Red Banner (Mongolia)
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Union of Burma (Myanmar) Sithu class
- Grand Cross with silver star of the Order of Ruben Dario (Nicaragua)
- First Class of the Order of the Serbian Flag (Serbia)
- Medal of the Uatsamonga Order (South Ossetia)
- Military Commonwealth Medal (Syria)
- Medal of the Friendship Order (Vietnam)
See also
In Spanish: Serguéi Shoigú para niños
- List of Heroes of the Russian Federation
