MOSCOW (Realist English). Dmitry Kozak, deputy chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration and one of Vladimir Putin’s closest associates, has submitted his resignation, two sources familiar with the matter told RBC. According to them, Kozak is considering “various offers to move into business.”
Kozak’s political career has been closely tied to Putin since the 1990s, when both worked in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office. From the early 2000s, he held a series of senior positions in government and the Kremlin. Between 2008 and 2020, he served as deputy prime minister, before becoming deputy head of the presidential administration in January 2020.
According to The New York Times, Kozak advised Putin against launching the full-scale special military operation in Ukraine in 2022. In 2025, he reportedly proposed opening peace talks and introducing domestic reforms, including placing the security services under government oversight.
Analysts say his departure reflects shifting internal power dynamics. His position in the administration had been steadily overshadowed by that of first deputy chief of staff Sergey Kiriyenko, who has consolidated his influence. Another factor, sources note, is Putin’s determination to continue the special military operation for several more years, while Kozak favored ending hostilities and presented the president with assessments of the army, economy, and human resources to support his stance.
Further reshuffles in the presidential administration may follow. Kozak’s resignation is seen as a symbolic step marking the Kremlin’s consolidation around Kiriyenko and a hardening of the leadership’s commitment to prolonging the campaign.
