Ukraine's parliament approves president's choice for defence minister

National Guard commander Stepan Poltorak attends a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev, in this October 13, 2014 handout photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service. REUTERS/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Mykola Lazarenko/Handout via Reuters

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament on Tuesday approved National Guard chief Stepan Poltorak as defence minister following his nomination by President Petro Poroshenko.

Poltorak, 49, a colonel-general, replaces Valery Heletey who faced criticism for a rout of Ukrainian forces by Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country at the end of August.