Zelenskyy Appoints Spy Chief as New Acting Defense Minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that the head of the country's security services, Yevhenii Khmara, will serve as acting defense minister. Khmara, who became the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine earlier this year, cannot simultaneously hold both positions under Ukrainian law. He is expected to retire from military service in the coming days, allowing Zelenskyy to formally request parliament to appoint him as defense minister. “I have tasked Yevhenii Khmara with serving as acting minister, continuing to reform the defense sector, and ensuring that Ukraine achieves all of the results we have discussed,” Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook. He added: “Khmara has gained extensive and, in many respects, unprecedented experience with technological combat operations. This is exactly where our defense efforts should be focused during this war.” Zelenskyy dismissed former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Wednesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle. The 35-year-old had held the post for only six months. While reforming the military's technology, Fedorov also clashed with top generals, who said they found him difficult to work with.