Ukraine’s Parliament Appoints Yevhenii Khmara as New Defense Minister

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Verkhovna Rada has appointed Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine’s new Minister of Defense.
• 312 MPs voted in favor of Khmara’s appointment on August 19.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted Khmara’s candidacy to parliament after he had served as acting defense minister since July.
• Khmara previously headed the Special Operations Center “A” of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and served as acting head of the SBU earlier in 2026.
• He has combat experience and was involved in operations during the full-scale war, including the liberation of Snake Island in 2022.
• Khmara is the first person with direct combat experience to head Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, according to Ukrainian media reports.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has appointed Major General Yevhenii Khmara as the country’s new Minister of Defense, with 312 lawmakers supporting his candidacy on August 19. Khmara, who had served as acting defense minister since July, brings extensive experience from Ukraine’s security and special operations structures to the country’s top civilian defense position.

Parliament Approves Khmara as Defense Minister

The Verkhovna Rada approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s nomination of Yevhenii Khmara on August 19.

A total of 312 MPs voted in favor of the appointment.

The vote followed the unanimous support of Khmara’s candidacy by the parliamentary defense committee earlier in the day. All 15 committee members present voted in favor.

Khmara has now moved from an acting role to formally leading the Defense Ministry.

He Had Already Been Running the Ministry

Khmara had been serving as acting Minister of Defense since July 20.

The Cabinet of Ministers temporarily assigned him the role after the formation of Ukraine’s new government, while the permanent appointment remained unresolved.

On August 18, Zelenskyy formally submitted his candidacy to parliament.

The Cabinet subsequently ended Khmara’s previous position as deputy defense minister and terminated his status as acting minister as part of the formal transition to his new position.

From SBU Special Operations to the Defense Ministry

Before moving to the Defense Ministry, Khmara built his career within Ukraine’s security and special operations structures.

He had served in the SBU’s Special Operations Center “A,” commonly known as “Alpha,” since 2011 and gradually moved into senior command positions.

In August 2025, Zelenskyy appointed him head of the Special Operations Center “A.” In January 2026, he was temporarily appointed acting head of the SBU.

His move to the Defense Ministry therefore represents a transition from intelligence and special operations leadership to the country’s central defense-management institution.

Khmara Has Combat Experience

One of the most notable aspects of Khmara’s background is his direct experience in combat operations.

During the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he participated in the defense and liberation of Kyiv region before carrying out missions in Donetsk region.

He also commanded the operation to liberate Snake Island in 2022.

The operation became one of the symbolic Ukrainian successes of the first year of the full-scale war and helped establish Khmara’s public reputation beyond the normally secretive SBU special-operations environment.

Rapid Rise Through the Military Ranks

Khmara’s career accelerated during the full-scale war.

He received the rank of brigadier general in August 2023 and was promoted to major general in June 2024.

His subsequent appointment to lead the SBU’s Special Operations Center “A” placed him at the head of one of Ukraine’s most important special-operations structures.

The experience gave him direct exposure to military operations, intelligence and the use of modern technologies on the battlefield.

A Different Profile From His Predecessor

Khmara’s appointment marks a significant change in the profile of Ukraine’s defense minister.

His predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, came from the civilian technology and government-management sphere and placed considerable emphasis on digitalization, innovation and technological transformation.

Khmara instead comes directly from Ukraine’s security and military environment.

Ukrainian media have described this as the first time the Defense Ministry has been headed by a person with direct combat experience.

Deep-Strike Capabilities Are a Priority

During his time as acting defense minister, Khmara identified strengthening Ukraine’s deep-strike capabilities against Russia as one of his priorities.

The Defense Ministry said Khmara emphasized increasing pressure on Russian military infrastructure and facilities supporting Russia’s war effort.

This approach fits with Ukraine’s broader effort to expand domestic long-range drone and missile capabilities.

The ministry has simultaneously continued expanding domestic weapons production and introducing new procurement mechanisms.

Focus on Combat Experience and Technology

Khmara’s background combines operational military experience with exposure to modern Ukrainian warfare.

The SBU special operations forces have increasingly relied on drones and other technologies during the full-scale war.

At the Defense Ministry, Khmara will now have to manage these capabilities at a much broader institutional level, including procurement, defense production, military supply and cooperation with international partners.

A Major Challenge for the New Minister

Khmara takes over the ministry during an exceptionally demanding period.

Ukraine continues to fight a large-scale war while simultaneously expanding domestic weapons production, reforming defense procurement and integrating new military structures.

The Defense Ministry is also responsible for coordinating military assistance from international partners and ensuring that weapons and equipment reach units efficiently.

The new minister will therefore have to combine his battlefield experience with the administrative and political responsibilities of running one of Ukraine’s largest government institutions.

He Will Inherit Ongoing Reforms

Khmara is not starting from scratch.

The Defense Ministry has already introduced major reforms in procurement and logistics, including digital platforms designed to allow military units to order certain equipment more directly.

The ministry has also been expanding domestic defense production and developing new mechanisms for cooperation between the military and Ukrainian defense companies.

The challenge for Khmara will be to preserve successful reforms while adapting them to the changing needs of the battlefield.

His Appointment Follows a Period of Political Change

Khmara’s appointment comes after the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and the formation of a new Ukrainian government.

The transition generated political controversy, including public demonstrations supporting Fedorov in several Ukrainian cities.

Zelenskyy’s decision to nominate Khmara therefore represents more than a routine personnel change.

It places a senior security officer with a wartime operational background at the center of Ukraine’s defense administration.

What Khmara Brings to the Ministry

Khmara brings several years of experience in Ukraine’s security services, senior command positions and combat operations.

His previous work included responsibility for special operations, intelligence-related activities and military missions conducted during the full-scale war.

At the same time, leading the Defense Ministry requires a different set of skills, including management of a large civilian bureaucracy, procurement systems, international relations and defense policy.

The effectiveness of his tenure will therefore depend on how successfully he combines operational experience with institutional management.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Enters a New Phase

The appointment of Yevhenii Khmara places a commander with a distinctly military background at the head of Ukraine’s civilian defense institution.

His experience in special operations and combat may influence the ministry’s priorities, particularly regarding weapons development, deep-strike capabilities and the practical needs of troops.

At the same time, he inherits a ministry undergoing significant digital, procurement and organizational reforms.

The coming months will show whether Khmara can translate his battlefield and security-service experience into effective management of Ukraine’s entire defense system.

Yevhenii Khmara now leads Ukraine’s Defense Ministry with a background unlike most of his predecessors: years in SBU special operations, senior command experience and direct participation in the war against Russia. His appointment comes at a time when Ukraine must simultaneously maintain military operations, expand domestic weapons production, strengthen deep-strike capabilities and continue reforming its defense procurement system.