Russian President Vladimir Putin is to remove his long-standing ally Sergei Shoigu as defence minister, the Kremlin has announced.

The 68-year-old had been in the role since 2012 and will be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, an economist with little military experience.

Mr Shoigu is to be appointed secretary of Russia's Security Council.

The Kremlin said the defence ministry needed to stay "innovative".