Loki
02-19-2014, 07:56 PM
Ukraine President Yanukovych sacks army chief amid crisis (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26265808)
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has sacked the head of the armed forces, Col Gen Volodymyr Zamana, according to the president's website.
The move comes after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone.
Earlier the state security service announced it was launching a nationwide "anti-terrorist" campaign to deal with a growing "extremist threat".
There was a suggestion the armed forces could be deployed for the first time.
Col Gen Zamana has been replaced by the commander of Ukraine's navy, Admiral Yuriy Ilyin, by presidential decree, President Yanukovych's website said.
Apocalyptic
It is so far unclear what prompted Mr Yanukovych's decision to dismiss the commander-in-chief of the armed forces - who has been in place two years and a day, according to his official biography.
But it came hours after the head of the top security agency, Oleksandr Yakimenko, said an "anti-terrorist operation" was being launched after "extremist groups" seized government buildings and arms depots.
Mr Yakimenko did not provide details of what the anti-terrorist operation would involve, but he did say that - according to Ukrainian law - the country's interior ministry, border guards and armed forces could become involved.
Ukraine's defence ministry has also said it is redeploying units around the country to guard military facilities.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has sacked the head of the armed forces, Col Gen Volodymyr Zamana, according to the president's website.
The move comes after the most intense violence in Ukraine's three-month crisis turned Kiev into a battle zone.
Earlier the state security service announced it was launching a nationwide "anti-terrorist" campaign to deal with a growing "extremist threat".
There was a suggestion the armed forces could be deployed for the first time.
Col Gen Zamana has been replaced by the commander of Ukraine's navy, Admiral Yuriy Ilyin, by presidential decree, President Yanukovych's website said.
Apocalyptic
It is so far unclear what prompted Mr Yanukovych's decision to dismiss the commander-in-chief of the armed forces - who has been in place two years and a day, according to his official biography.
But it came hours after the head of the top security agency, Oleksandr Yakimenko, said an "anti-terrorist operation" was being launched after "extremist groups" seized government buildings and arms depots.
Mr Yakimenko did not provide details of what the anti-terrorist operation would involve, but he did say that - according to Ukrainian law - the country's interior ministry, border guards and armed forces could become involved.
Ukraine's defence ministry has also said it is redeploying units around the country to guard military facilities.