MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a series of decrees on Thursday appointing four deputy prime ministers, alongside a new minister of transport and a presidential aide.

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The appointments took effect on the day of signing, according to the documents.

Irina Okladnikova, former deputy minister of finance, was named deputy prime minister and chief of the government staff. Oleg Kozhemyako, former governor of Primorsky Krai, was appointed deputy prime minister and presidential plenipotentiary envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. Andrey Nikitin, who previously headed the Ministry of Transport, was also appointed deputy prime minister.

Additionally, a new post combining the roles of deputy prime minister and finance minister was created within the cabinet. Anton Siluanov, former finance minister, was appointed to this post.

As a result, the prime minister will have one more deputy, bringing the total number of deputy prime ministers in the cabinet to 11.

In other appointments, Dmitry Yadrov, former head of Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, was named as minister of transport, while Yury Trutnev, who served as deputy prime minister and presidential plenipotentiary envoy to Russia's Far Eastern Federal District, was appointed presidential aide.