Colonel General Alexander Fomin, a member of the Russian delegation that held negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul in both 2022 and 2025, is reportedly set to resign from his post as Deputy Minister of Defense, according to multiple sources.
In 2011, Fomin served as First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) — the government agency responsible for overseeing Russia’s arms exports and imports. On May 23, 2012, by presidential decree, Vladimir Putin appointed him Director of the FSMTC, replacing Mikhail Dmitriev. In that role, Fomin headed Russia’s international military-technical cooperation until early 2017.
On January 31, 2017, Alexander Fomin was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, succeeding Anatoly Antonov, who left the position to become ambassador to the United States.
In his new capacity, Fomin oversaw international military cooperation and foreign defense partnerships within the Defense Ministry. He was responsible for the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation (GU MVS) and the Department for Compliance with International Treaties, which also includes the National Center for Nuclear Threat Reduction.
A Figure with Deep Ties to the Defense Industry
Throughout his career, Fomin has maintained close connections with influential figures in Russia’s defense-industrial sector, particularly the state corporation Rostec. His professional path runs through key institutions in the arms export system. In the 1990s, he worked at Rosvooruzheniye, and in the 2000s — at Rosoboronexport. Both organizations were later consolidated under Rostec, led by Sergey Chemezov.
Fomin joined the FSMTC in 2004 and became its head in 2012. According to sources, he is considered part of Chemezov’s inner circle.
His appointment coincided with Rostec’s growing influence. His predecessor, Mikhail Dmitriev, stepped down in what observers viewed as a reflection of Chemezov’s increasing sway. When Fomin moved to the Defense Ministry in 2017, his former FSMTC position was filled by Dmitry Shugayev, who had previously served as Chemezov’s deputy at Rostec.
As a result, both key posts — Deputy Defense Minister for Military-Technical Cooperation and FSMTC Director — came under figures closely associated with Chemezov.
Analysts have pointed out that both Fomin and Shugayev belong to Chemezov’s trusted network, interpreting their appointments as part of Rostec’s broader “personnel expansion” into government structures. This consolidation further strengthened Rostec’s control over the country’s system of military-technical cooperation.
Ties with Igor Sechin and the Security Elite
According to Kommersant, Fomin is also connected to Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin. Their acquaintance dates back to their service in the Soviet Armed Forces: in the late 1980s, both men spent an extended mission together in Angola and have remained close ever since. Fomin once remarked, “Combat comrades are never former.”
A Behind-the-Scenes Strategist
Military analysts describe Fomin as a discreet and pragmatic figure, rather than a public diplomat. Unlike his predecessor Anatoly Antonov — a prominent negotiator involved in major arms-control treaties such as New START — Fomin has been seen as a technocratic manager within Russia’s military-technical domain.
Between 2017 and the early 2020s, the Defense Ministry’s priorities shifted: instead of pursuing arms-control dialogue with the West, Moscow focused on strengthening ties with non-Western countries and supporting military operations in Syria and later in Ukraine. In these areas, Fomin’s experience proved particularly useful. Experts highlighted his active participation in defense negotiations with Turkey, Iran, and ASEAN member states, which, though largely conducted away from the public eye, helped solidify Russia’s military presence beyond the Western sphere.
Possible Move to Rostec
According to insider reports, Fomin may continue his career at Rostec. His expected successor as Deputy Defense Minister is Vasily Osmakov, currently First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, sources told RBC. Osmakov’s exact responsibilities have not yet been finalized.
