Putin's defence chief resurfaces after disappearing from view

FILE PHOTO: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu observes the military exercises "Zapad-2021" staged by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at the Mulino training ground in Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia, September 13, 2021. Sputnik/Alexey Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo


LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's defence minister was briefly shown by state media at a meeting of top officials on Thursday after dropping out of public view for days during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, is overseeing what Russia calls its "special military operation", but had not been seen in public since March 11, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts.