Russia replaces missile forces chief: Kremlin

President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday replaced the head of Russia's missile forces, the Kremlin said, after a series of embarrassing failed test-firings of a major new weapon.

Medvedev issued a decree ordering the replacement of General Nikolai Solovtsov by General Andrei Shvaichenko as commander of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces.

"With this decree Nikolai Solovtsov is freed from his duties as head of the missile forces and discharged from military service," the Kremlin said in a statement.

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