Yanukovych replaces Ukraines defense minister

President Viktor Yanukovych, in dual orders posted yesterday on his website, dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Yezhel and replaced him with Dmytro Salamatin. The latter was previously Yanukovych’s appointee to head Ukroboronprom (since January 2011), the Ukrainian government body that develops, produces and sells military equipment to foreign countries, and prior to that his choice to head Ukrspetsexport (since June 2010), the state-owned importer and exporter of military goods and services.

Brad Wells: Salamantin is Ukraine’s second new minister in as many months now and, just as with the appointment of Finance Minister Valeriy Khoroshkovsky in January, appears to shift the influence in government toward a circle of associates close to Yanukovych.