Ukrainian parliament approves new security chief

The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday approved the nomination of Col. Gen. Vasyl Hrytsak as head of the Ukrainian Security Service, the parliamentary press service said.

Hrytsak's appointment was backed by 340 of the 388 lawmakers present in the session, after he was nominated by President Petro Poroshenko, the press service said in a statement.

Hrytsak, a 48-year-old veteran security officer, formerly has served as the deputy head of the security service and the director of the government's military operation against pro-independence insurgents in eastern regions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hrytsak's predecessor, Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, was relieved by the parliament of his post in mid-June at the request of Poroshenko.