Vladimir Putin has dismissed the head of Roscosmos in a move which follows a series of setbacks for Russia’s space agency during his time in charge.

After serving for two-and-half years, Yury Borisov has been replaced by a former deputy transportation minister in what Russian media reported as a sudden decision.

While the Kremlin has said that the reshuffle was “planned,” a prominent Russian Telegram channel linked to the country’s intelligence services said that Borisov’s removal was linked to problems faced by Russia’s Sarmat missile which is central to Moscow’s nuclear weapons ambitions.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment.

Why It Matters

Putin has boasted about Russia’s missile capabilities and the prospect the head of the country’s space program was fired because of shortcomings in the program might point to concerns Moscow has about developing the weapons.

What To Know

Dmitry Bakanov, who led the state-backed Gonets satellite communications system between 2011 and 2019, has been announced as the new Roscosmos chief.

He replaces Borisov, who was put in charge of the space agency in July 2022, five months into the war Moscow started with Ukraine, during which time many of Russia’s former space partners cut or reduced their ties.

This complicated Russia’s launch and exploration plans and in August 2023, he presided over the failure of Luna 25, the first moon mission in modern Russian history.

He also signed off on a Russian space station whose first module was supposed to have launched in 2027 but has been delayed to 2028, and there have been other problems with the country’s production of satellites.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there were “no complaints against Borisov” and the reshuffle was part of a planned rotation. Russian space expert Vitaly Yegorov told Radio Svoboda that Borisov had stopped the collapse of the country’s space sector which had been hit hard by sanctions.

But the Telegram channel Cheka OGPU, which is linked to Russian security agencies and often reports government insider sources, said that Putin had been angered at the problems faced by the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

In September 2024, satellite imagery appeared to show a launch failure at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia of the missile which is central to Putin’s plans to modernize Moscow’s nuclear arsenal.

The missile’s ejection tests and flight testing have been repeatedly delayed, and it previously had at least two canceled flight tests and at least one other flight test failure, according to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London think tank.

Cheka OGPU’s post said that problems with the operation of the Sarmat have not been resolved, there is no proper electronic component base for serial production and the full range of testing has not been carried out.

The post also said that Borisov may be charged with embezzlement of state funds from over a decade ago when he was deputy minister of defense, although it did not add any further details and the Telegram channel’s claims have not been independently verified.

What People Are Saying

Cheka OGPU Telegram channel: “Putin’s anger was linked to the absolute failure in the production and putting on combat duty of the Sarmat missile system.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov: “There are no claims against Borisov. Rotation is being carried out as the corporation (Roscosmos) needs to develop dynamically.”

What Happens Next

Business news outlet RBC reported how the change in Roscosmos’s leadership comes amid “uncertainty” over the construction of the National Space Center in Moscow. Yegorov told Radio Svoboda that Bakanov will audit the agency and that his main priority will be developing Russia’s Sphere satellite program.