Stepan Poltorak Appointed Ukraine Defense Minister

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (R) congratulates Stepan Poltorak (L), new Ukrainian Defence Minister of Ukraine, during a session of parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, 14 October 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Ukraine's Parliament has approved Stepan Poltorak to take over the Defense Ministry from Valeriy Heletey.

The Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly (245-1) in favor of his candidacy, Interfax Ukraine reports.

Poltorak previously headed the Ukrainian National Guard.

Heletey came under fire in Ukraine after the army suffered numerous defeats by pro-Russian rebels in the Donbass region.

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