I think this was the idea:

"When he fires all of Soigu's leaches at the top of the pyramid in the defense ministry does he he install a more clever or at least less venal set of leaches that he controls?"

To shake things up and also save some money. But one man cannot change the system... I dont think putin set him up to fail, but he just can't succeed.

I kinda understand what Putin wants from this guy, but the wallet is shrinking way too fast to be recovered at this point. On day one of his appointment, Russia has lost 1,740 soldeirs, 31 tanks and 42 armored vehicles? what can you save when your operational strategy hinges on the idea of we have the ability to pay more blood than the other side?