Key facts
- Yevhenii Khmara, head of Ukraine's security services, is set to become acting defense minister.
- President Zelenskyy announced the appointment, citing Khmara's experience in technological combat operations.
- Khmara must retire from military service to formally hold the defense minister position.
- Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed as defense minister after six months in the role.
- Fedorov's tenure was marked by efforts to reform military technology and reported clashes with generals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Yevhenii Khmara, the current acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, will be appointed as the country's acting defense minister. Khmara's appointment follows the abrupt dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov on Wednesday.
Under Ukrainian law, Khmara cannot simultaneously hold his position in the security services and serve as defense minister. He is expected to retire from military service in the coming days, which would allow Zelenskyy to formally request his appointment by parliament. Zelenskyy stated on Facebook that he has tasked Khmara with continuing to reform the defense sector and ensuring the achievement of discussed results, highlighting Khmara's extensive experience with technological combat operations as crucial for the ongoing war effort.
Fedorov, who was 35 years old, had held the defense minister post for only six months. His tenure included efforts to reform the military's technology, but he also reportedly clashed with top generals who found him difficult to work with.