The Ukrainian president has nominated Stepan Poltorak, the head of Ukraine’s National Guard, as his new defence minister.
The previous minister resigned after criticism over a defeat where more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a battle with separatists.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said: “I had an opportunity to talk to regular soldiers during my trip to the anti-terrorist operation zone, and to commanders. The conversations convinced me in the correctness of my decision”.
His choice will now have to be voted on by parliament.
The nomination comes as hundreds of Ukrainian national guardsmen protested outside the presidential palace.
They are angry that despite finishing their military service they are not being allowed home and they want the government to release them from the army.
