Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara, head of the security services, as acting Minister of Defense, the day after the dismissal of his predecessor.
Yevhenii Khmara previously headed the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), where he had been appointed on an interim basis earlier this year. Ukrainian law prohibits him from holding both positions simultaneously, but he is expected to leave active military service in the coming days, which will allow Zelensky to submit his candidacy to Parliament for a formal appointment.
“I have tasked Yevhenii Khmara with serving as acting minister, continuing the reform of the defense sector, and ensuring that Ukraine achieves all the results we have discussed,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Facebook. He added that Khmara had “acquired considerable and, in many respects, unique experience in technological combat operations,” an area he considers a priority for the war effort.
The day before, Zelensky had dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov in a government reshuffle. The 35-year-old had held the post for only six months. While he had initiated technological reforms within the army, he had encountered significant tension with senior officers, who openly complained about the difficulties of working with him.
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