New defence minister for Ukraine – Peninsula On
KYIV: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed a new defence minister yesterday after the previous incumbent resigned amid sharp criticism over a rout of Kyiv’s troops by Russian-backed separatists in late August.
The presidential website named Stepan Poltorak, 49, head of Ukraine’s National Guard, as Poroshenko’s choice to replace Valery Heletey. Parliament is expected to vote on the nomination today.
By replacing his defence minister now, two weeks before a parliamentary election in Ukraine, political analysts said Poroshenko was trying to disarm critics of his record in tackling the pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.
Heletey had faced heavy criticism after Ukrainian forces suffered a crushing defeat at rebel hands on August 24 at Ilovaisk, east of the main rebel-held eastern city of Donetsk.
That setback, in which Kyiv says more than 100 Ukrainian military personnel were killed, prompted Poroshenko to accept the need for a ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, military sources say.
The sources say a large number of Russian troops were also killed at Ilovaisk — a charge not acknowledged by Moscow, which denies any part in the Ukraine conflict despite what Kyiv and Western governments say is incontrovertible proof.
Heletey defended himself on Monday, denying any mistakes had been made at Ilovaisk and repeating his contention that Russian forces had suffered heavy losses too.
“The flow of dead Russian servicemen stopped the aggression of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, of Russian forces. This was a large-scale offensive (by Russia) on the territory of Ukraine,” he said.
Political analysts linked Heletey’s resignation to the October 26 parliamentary election, in which Poroshenko’s own political bloc is expected to perform strongly.
“Heletey attracted too much that was negative. As long as Heletey was seen as Poroshenko’s man this would tell on Poroshenko’s ratings,” political analyst Ostap Kryvdyk said.
Reuters