President Vladimir Putin has replaced the head of the republic of Udmurtia after his sudden resignation on Wednesday. In a statement, Udmurtia’s regional government said Brechalov, a native of the North Caucasus republic of Adygea, was “moving to a new job,” but it did not provide further details. Putin appointed Udmurtia native and former agricultural official Olga Abramova as acting governor until regional elections next year. During a televised Kremlin meeting, Putin emphasized Abramova’s local roots while noting that defense manufacturing accounts for a “large share” of the republic's economy. Udmurtia’s capital, Izhevsk, hosts several major arms producers, most notably Kalashnikov Concern, which manufactures assault rifles, guided missiles and combat drones.