President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Yevhen Khmara, the acting chief of the Security Service of Ukraine, will serve as acting defense minister. The appointment follows public outrage over the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov and aims to bolster Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities.
The appointment of Yevhen Khmara as acting defense minister signals a strategic shift in Ukraine's defense priorities towards long-range strike capabilities amidst ongoing conflict. It also highlights potential internal political shifts and controversies surrounding key security appointments.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on July 16 that Yevhen Khmara, the acting chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has been appointed as the acting defense minister. This decision follows significant public discontent after the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov the previous day.
Zelensky stated that once legal procedures are finalized, he will seek lawmakers' support for Khmara's permanent appointment. Khmara previously headed the SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center and has been instrumental in Ukraine's long-range strike campaigns against Russia. He is also recognized for leading the operation to liberate Snake Island.
The President highlighted Khmara's extensive experience in technological strike operations, emphasizing the need for Ukraine's defense to prioritize developing long-range capabilities, a focus also pursued by Fedorov. Khmara was appointed acting head of the SBU in January after Vasyl Maliuk stepped down to concentrate on operations against Russia.
Sources had previously indicated that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko was considered to replace Fedorov. Following Khmara's potential move to the Defense Ministry, his senior deputy, Oleksandr Poklad, is expected to assume the role of acting SBU chief. Poklad has faced controversy, with activists accusing him of fabricating political cases and leading an attack on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in 2025.