No one expected Mikhail Mishustin to last as Russia’s PM. But after four years of war, he’s become synonymous with the role.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin turned 60 this week. His ascent — from head of the Federal Tax Service to prime minister — was swift and largely unforeseen. With a single promotion, Mishustin effectively skipped two rungs of the bureaucratic ladder and landed in Russia’s second-highest office. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev recounts Mishustin’s rise and explains how he’s managed to stay in the role for years, against all expectations.