FACTBOX: Russia's top officials: Who does what?

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appointed key Kremlin advisers and government ministers on Monday after consultations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Following are brief descriptions of the figures named so far to key Kremlin and government posts:

KREMLIN CHIEF OF STAFF - Sergei Naryshkin

Age: 53

Born in Leningrad. Educated as an engineer and radio mechanic before studying economics. Worked as economic adviser to the Soviet embassy in Belgium in the 1980s and later in the St Petersburg mayor's office. Deputy chairman of state oil giant Rosneft and chairman of Channel One state television. Chief of government staff since 2004. Speaks English and French. Some Russian and international reports have linked him to the KGB but this has never been officially confirmed.

KREMLIN FIRST DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF - Vladislav Surkov

Age: 43

Surkov was born in the southern Russian region of Chechnya where Islamic rebels have fought Russia in two wars since 1994. Surkov is credited with being one of the inspirations behind the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi. He was one of Putin's main ideologues and is credited with devising the so-called "sovereign-democracy" political doctrine that is critics say is autocratic.

KREMLIN DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF - Alexei Gromov

Putin's former press chief.

FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS

- Viktor Zubkov

Age: 66

A former Soviet collective farm boss, Zubkov served as Putin's last prime minister. A close Putin associate, Zubkov is on the list of candidates to chair Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas giant.

- Igor Shuvalov

Age: 41

A lawyer by education, Shuvalov is a former government chief of staff who worked as the top Kremlin economic adviser to Putin from 2003. He was Russia's sherpa to the Group of Eight industrialized nations.

GOVERNMENT CHIEF OF STAFF - Sergei Sobyanin

Also deputy prime minister

Age: 49

Worked as Putin's Kremlin chief of staff since 2005. Educated as a lawyer, Sobyanin was governor of the Tyumen region, one of Russia's richest oil-producing areas, before being made chief of staff by Putin. Known for his ability to find compromises between Russia's powerful oil barons and keep governors in order. He headed Medvedev's election campaign.

FINANCE MINISTER - Alexei Kudrin

Also deputy prime minister

Age: 47

Kudrin worked as Russia's finance minister from May 2000. He has turned around Russia's finances, balancing the budget after the chaos of the 1990s and defending windfall oil revenues from elements in the government who want to spend the cash. He has become the darling of emerging market bond investors for supporting market reforms and tight fiscal policies. Helped Putin land his first job in the Kremlin.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS:

- Sergei Sobyanin (see above)

- Alexei Kudrin (see above)

- Igor Sechin

Age: 47

Kremlin joint deputy chief of staff since 2000. One of Putin's closest advisers since his days in St Petersburg. Chairman of state-controlled oil giant Rosneft. Often reported to have a security service past, though this has never been officially confirmed. Considered the informal head of the Kremlin hardliners' camp.

- Sergei Ivanov

Age: 55

Worked as first deputy prime minister in the previous government. Was considered one of the two front-runners to succeed Putin as president. A former Soviet career spy who was posted to top posts in Europe and Africa. Very close ties with Putin. Influence over security services, defense and arms industry. Has clashed with Sechin in the past.

- Alexander Zhukov

Age: 51

A respected former parliamentarian, Zhukov is an economist who was named a first deputy prime minister in 2003. A year later he was named deputy prime minister. He is in charge of Russian preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE CHIEF - Alexander Bortnikov

Age: 56

The FSB is the main successor to the Soviet KGB and wields immense influence in Russia. Bortnikov was appointed head of the FSB's economic security department in 2004 and then became deputy FSB chief. Previously he was head of the FSB in St Petersburg.

SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY - Nikolai Patrushev

Age: 56

Headed the Federal Security Service under Putin since 1999. Patrushev has close ties with Putin, a former KGB spy, and with Sechin. Another key member of the hardline camp.

FOREIGN MINISTER - Sergei Lavrov

Age: 58

A career diplomat, Lavrov has served as Russia's foreign minister throughout Putin's second term as president, since March 2004. Lavrov has closely echoed in public Putin's assertive comments towards the West on issues such as NATO enlargement and independence for Kosovo.

OTHER MINISTERS:

Anatoly Serdyukov, defense minister (re-appointed)

Viktor Khristenko, industry and trade minister (previously energy and industries minister)

Sergei Shmatko, energy minister

Elvira Nabiullina, economy minister (re-appointed)

Alexander Konovalov, justice minister

Alexei Gordeyev, agriculture minister (re-appointed)

Igor Shchyogolev, communications minister

Dmitry Kozak, regional development minister (re-appointed)

Rashid Nurgaliyev, interior minister (re-appointed)

Andrei Fursenko, education minister (re-appointed)

Yury Trutnev, natural resources minister (re-appointed)

Sergei Shoigu, emergency situations minister (re-appointed)

Tatyana Golikova, health minister (re-appointed)

Igor Levitin, transport minister (re-appointed)

Alexander Avdeyev, culture minister

Vitaly Mutko, minister of sport, youth and tourism

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Simon Shuster and James Kilner; Editing by Richard Balmforth)