Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy replaced the commander of his special forces on Thursday, the second time in half a year that he has changed the head of the unit which operates in Moscow-occupied territories.

The dismissal of Colonel Serhiy Lupanchuk and appointment of Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak in his place was announced in two decrees on the president's website that provided no explanation for the move.

Since 2014, Trepak has been actively participating in defence operations in east Ukraine against Russian-backed separatists. He was engaged in leading the push to repel the Russian assault on Donetsk airport, one of the biggest operations back then.

The Ukrainian military's chain of command has been changed at different levels since February when Zelenskiy replaced his top commander, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, with then-ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi in a major shake up.

At the time, Zelenskiy said a new military leadership was taking control of the armed forces and promised to "reboot" the system by bringing in experienced commanders who understood the daily needs of the troops.

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The shakeup came at an uncertain time for Ukraine with Russian troops beginning to advance in the east, taking advantage of shortages of Ukrainian manpower at the front as well as dwindling stocks of artillery shells.

In a separate decree on Thursday, Zelenskiy also reappointed Dmytro Hereha as commander of the army's support forces, a post he was dismissed from without any explanation in March.

Lupanchuk was appointed to lead the special forces last November following the sudden dismissal of his predecessor Viktor Horenko.

Horenko's dismissal was seen at the time as a sign of a growing rift between Zelenskiy and his then top commander who was fired months later.

The special forces do not have a public profile, but are thought to have been involved in Ukraine's most ambitious operations in Russian-held areas and in particular the peninsula of Crimea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy replaced the commander of his special forces on Thursday, the second time in half a year that he has changed the head of the unit which operates in Moscow-occupied territories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy replaced the commander of his special forces on Thursday, the second time in half a year that he has changed the head of the unit which operates in Moscow-occupied territories. The dismissal of Colonel Serhiy Lupanchuk and appointment of Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak in his place was announced in two decrees on the president's website that provided no explanation for the move. Since 2014, Trepak has been actively participating in defence operations in east Ukraine against Russian-backed separatists. He was engaged in leading the push to repel the Russian assault on Donetsk airport, one of the biggest operations back then. The Ukrainian military's chain of command has been changed at different levels since February when Zelenskiy replaced his top commander, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, with then-ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi in a major shake up. At the time, Zelenskiy said a new military leadership was taking control of the armed forces and promised to "reboot" the system by bringing in experienced commanders who understood the daily needs of the troops. Also read: Ukraine says foiled Russian plot to assassinate President Zelensky, two colonels detained The shakeup came at an uncertain time for Ukraine with Russian troops beginning to advance in the east, taking advantage of shortages of Ukrainian manpower at the front as well as dwindling stocks of artillery shells. In a separate decree on Thursday, Zelenskiy also reappointed Dmytro Hereha as commander of the army's support forces, a post he was dismissed from without any explanation in March. Lupanchuk was appointed to lead the special forces last November following the sudden dismissal of his predecessor Viktor Horenko. Horenko's dismissal was seen at the time as a sign of a growing rift between Zelenskiy and his then top commander who was fired months later. The special forces do not have a public profile, but are thought to have been involved in Ukraine's most ambitious operations in Russian-held areas and in particular the peninsula of Crimea.

Zelenskiy replaces special operations chief for second time in six months

Nine people were killed and 14 have been hospitalised as a series of forest fires swept through part of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the emergency service said on Thursday.

The fires, assisted by strong wind, threatened 31 settlements and engulfed an area of about 11,000 hectares the service said in a statement, adding that 120 people had been evacuated.

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Ukraine&nbsp;has sent 1,200 firefighters to battle the blaze which officials in one village near the frontline said was detonating unexploded shells previously fired over by pro-Russian separatists.

Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire that has forced the evacuation of more than a hundred residents from nearby villages since it broke out on Wednesday following unusually hot weather.

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More than 20 villages were under threat from the fire, fanned by dry conditions and strong winds.

The fire was blazing just a few kilometres from an area where fighting between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists erupts sporadically.

A ceasefire brokered two months ago has largely held and the authorities have not said whether the fire has affected the fighting.

Local officials in one village near the frontline, Stanytsa Luganska, said that numerous unexploded shells fired over by Russia-backed separatists were detonating due to the high temperature of the fire, threatening firefighters and local residents.

Regional officials said they had temporarily closed a crossing point into separatist-held territory due to the approaching fire.

The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that it was important to establish what started the fire and how it had spread so quickly.

Ukraine&nbsp;has been hit by unprecedented heat waves this year, fuelling fires that are hard to bring under control.

"This is not the best year for our country in terms of natural disasters and other tragedies,"&nbsp;Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing on Thursday.

In July, forest fires in the Lugansk region killed five people and injured around 30.

Scientists predict that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as catastrophic fires.

Fires in April ravaged more than 66,000 hectares in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl in northern&nbsp;Ukraine, the scene of one of the world's worst nuclear accidents in 1986.

Nine people were killed and 14 have been hospitalised as a series of forest fires swept through part of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the emergency service said on Thursday.

Nine people were killed and 14 have been hospitalised as a series of forest fires swept through part of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the emergency service said on Thursday. The fires, assisted by strong wind, threatened 31 settlements and engulfed an area of about 11,000 hectares the service said in a statement, adding that 120 people had been evacuated. Also see: Greece: Thousands of migrants become homeless after fire destroys Europe's largest camp Ukraine has sent 1,200 firefighters to battle the blaze which officials in one village near the frontline said was detonating unexploded shells previously fired over by pro-Russian separatists. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire that has forced the evacuation of more than a hundred residents from nearby villages since it broke out on Wednesday following unusually hot weather. Also read: Oregon wildfires: Nearly 500,000 evacuated amid climate change warning More than 20 villages were under threat from the fire, fanned by dry conditions and strong winds. The fire was blazing just a few kilometres from an area where fighting between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists erupts sporadically. A ceasefire brokered two months ago has largely held and the authorities have not said whether the fire has affected the fighting. Local officials in one village near the frontline, Stanytsa Luganska, said that numerous unexploded shells fired over by Russia-backed separatists were detonating due to the high temperature of the fire, threatening firefighters and local residents. Regional officials said they had temporarily closed a crossing point into separatist-held territory due to the approaching fire. The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that it was important to establish what started the fire and how it had spread so quickly. Ukraine has been hit by unprecedented heat waves this year, fuelling fires that are hard to bring under control. "This is not the best year for our country in terms of natural disasters and other tragedies," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing on Thursday. In July, forest fires in the Lugansk region killed five people and injured around 30. Scientists predict that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as catastrophic fires. Fires in April ravaged more than 66,000 hectares in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl in northern Ukraine, the scene of one of the world's worst nuclear accidents in 1986.

Nine killed, 14 hospitalised in forest fires blazing in eastern Ukraine

Members of the Ukrainian Parliament came to brawl over a proposed sales law, which will allow for the sale of the country's rich farmland.

Brawl In Ukrainian Parliament over a sales law