(VOVworld) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has reshuffled several regional governors and representatives of Federal agencies and singed an order to merge Crimea with Russia’s Southern Federal District into a united Southern Federal District.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Russia's Minister of Defence, Sergei Shoigu (L), in Moscow on 22/06 (Photo: EPA/TTXVN)

According to an order issued on Thursday, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov is relieved of his post. Senator Sergey Tsekov said that after two and a half years, the Crimean Federal District and the Southern Federal District show sufficient similarities that there is no need for two different structures. The transitional period in Crimea has ended.

The former governor of Sevastopol, Sergey Menyailo, was appointed presidential envoy to the Siberian Federal District, and Dmitry Ovsyannikov was appointed Acting Sevastopol Governor.

Putin’s personnel shake-up included changes in Russia’s key forces. Oleg Belaventsev, former President’s representative in the North Caucasus, was appointed Deputy Commander of the Russian National Guard. The Federal Tax Service will have a new chairman after Andrey Belyaninov was dismissed for corruption accusation. Putin also fired Nikita Belykh, Governor of the Kirov Region, and Governor Sergey Yastrebov of the Yaroslavl Region.