Out with the epaulets, in with the dresses – the Russian Ministry of Defense has opted for an image overhaul by appointing a 26-year-old former journalist as spokeswoman. Rossiyana Markovskaya, named after her homeland, has taken social media by storm.
Rossiyana Markovskaya was appointed personal spokesperson for Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on Friday. She is a former correspondent and news anchor on national TV networks, and has already earned the nickname ‘Defense Cutie’ (‘Oboronyasha’ in Russian).
People rushed to Markovskaya’s Facebook page and Instagram to check out the young official, with comments varying from the offensive to those praising the minister’s choice. One person on Twitter even suggested that Markovskaya has taken over from Natalia Poklonskaya, a former Crimean prosecutor who captivated the internet, becoming famous in Russia and around the world.
READ MORE: 'Prosecutie' Poklonskaya hits right note in Crimean palace (VIDEO)