Poroshenko shakes up Ukrainian armed forces with new appointments

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko shook up his country’s beleaguered defense forces Thursday with new appointments to head the Defense Ministry, the general staff and a military advisory office in his presidential administration.

The appointments announced in the parliament and swiftly approved by lawmakers were aimed at reforming the armed forces that have been ravaged by inadequate funding and corruption throughout the 23 years that Ukraine has been independent.