The Ukrainian president has nominated Stepan Poltorak, the head of Ukraine’s National Guard, as his new defence minister.<br /><br />The previous minister resigned after criticism over a defeat where more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a battle with separatists.<br /><br />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”.<br /><br />His choice will now have to be voted on by parliament.<br /><br />The nomination comes as hundreds of Ukrainian national guardsmen protested outside the presidential palace.<br /><br />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.
