Russia's President Putin yesterday changed his key security ministers in his most sweeping cabinet reshuffle since taking office a year ago.
The Defence and Interior ministers were both replaced by ultra-loyalists, in a move seen as both tightening Kremlin control and a sign of the frustration over the failure to end the 19month Chechen war.
Mr Putin promised that "more surprises" are in store, creating speculation that the Prime Minister, Mr Mikhail Kasyanov, may also be on his way out.
Defence Minister Mr Igor Sergeyev, who has taken much of the blame for the army's bungled Chechnya operations, is replaced by the Security Council chief, Mr Sergei Ivanov.
Interior Minister Mr Vladimir Rushailo is effectively moved sideways, replacing Mr Ivanov, and is replaced by a Putin loyalist, Mr Boris Gryzlov, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Unity Party in parliament.
Both ministers have shouldered blame for the failures of the joint army and Interior Ministry operations in Chechnya to inflict a decisive defeat on rebel forces.
Mr Putin said: "In the new circumstances, the new Minister of Defence should pay more attention to the North Caucuses," - the region which includes Chechnya.
Also on the move is the Atomic Energy Minister, Mr Yevgeny Adamov, accused of corruption and blamed for mishandling of nuclear waste, and Russia gets it first female Deputy Defence Minister, Ms Lyubov Kudelina.
But it is the arrival of Mr Ivanov that has caught the eye: the 58-year-old is seen as the rising star in Mr Putin's government.
Mr Putin announced that the moves were aimed at "demilitarising Russia" with Mr Ivanov becoming the first non-military official to become Defence Minister.
But some will quibble with this distinction as he remains a serving general in the FSB.
Mr Ivanov has overseen plans to reform radically the nation's military, starting plans to cut personnel from 1.2 million to 800,000, and his appointment will give him the chance to carry these out.