Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Telegram
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has instructed Yevhenii Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to serve as acting defense minister and that he will ask parliament to approve Khmara's appointment as defense minister after the necessary legal procedures are completed.
Khmara is an active-duty military officer and former commander of the SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center. Under Ukrainian law, however, the defense minister must be a civilian.
"I have instructed Yevhenii Khmara to perform the duties of minister, continue reforming the defense sector, and deliver the results we have discussed for Ukraine. Once the necessary legal procedures are completed, I will ask parliament to support Yevhenii Khmara's appointment as Ukraine's defense minister," Zelensky said.
The president described Khmara as having "unprecedented experience in conducting long-range technological strike operations," adding that Ukraine's defense strategy should increasingly focus on such capabilities.
Zelensky said Khmara's priorities would include expanding Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities, strengthening internal security within the Defense Forces, ensuring fair personnel distribution among combat brigades, increasing supplies of all types of drones, and implementing defense agreements with international partners.
He also cited Khmara's experience leading the Alpha Special Operations Center as one of his key qualifications for the role.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that if Khmara leaves the SBU, First Deputy Head Oleksandr Poklad would become the agency's acting chief. Ukrainska Pravda also reported that Poklad is expected to assume those duties.
At the same time, MP Oleksii Honcharenko argued that Zelensky does not have the constitutional authority to appoint an acting defense minister, saying that such a decision must be made by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to Honcharenko, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi would have to formally appoint Khmara as acting minister.
"The only conclusion is that someone should give Zelensky a copy of the Constitution," Honcharenko said.
