Six Ukrainian deputy defence ministers sacked as fighting continues in east

An assault unit commander runs to his position at the frontline in Andriivka, Donetsk region (Alex Babenko/AP)

Six Ukrainian deputy defence ministers have been fired following the dismissal two weeks ago of Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov in a corruption scandal.

Deputy defence ministers including Hanna Maliar, Vitalii Deyneha and Denys Sharapov, as well as the state secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Kostiantyn Vashchenko, were fired, according to the Telegram account of Taras Melnychuk, permanent representative of the Cabinet of Ministers.