MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Deputy Defense Ministers Dmitry Chushkin and Yelena Kozlova on Thursday, the Kremlin announced, the latest in a wave of sackings following last week's removal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Moscow Region Deputy Prime Minister Ruslan Tsalikov has been appointed deputy defense minister, the Kremlin said.

Tsalikov previously served in the Moscow Region government under Governor Sergei Shoigu, who replaced Anatoly Serdyukov as defense minister last week.

Yury Borisov, First Deputy of the Government's Military-Industrial Commission, has been officially appointed as a deputy defense minister as replacement for General Alexander Sukhorukov, who was fired from the post on November 9, the Kremlin confirmed on Thursday. News of his new role was first released by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin's office earlier this week

Serdyukov was fired from his post as defense minister last week following a financial scandal at the ministry involving the Oboronservis defense property management company. An investigation is continuing into embezzlement at the company and several top managers have been arrested following searches at the company's offices.