Zelenskyy tasks acting head of Security Service with leading Ministry of Defence

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he will propose the parliament to appoint Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), has been tasked by the president with acting as Ukraine's defence minister in the interim.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "I have tasked Yevhen Khmara with serving as acting minister, continuing to reform the defence sector, and ensuring that Ukraine achieves all of the results we have discussed. Once the necessary legal procedures have been completed, I will request that MPs support Yevhen Khmara's nomination for the position of Minister of Defence of Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy said he had met with the SSU head and spoke of the existence of "a strategic vision for Ukraine's ongoing active efforts to defend our independence and force Russia into diplomacy".

He said Khmara had gained extensive experience conducting technological strike operations: "This is exactly where our defense efforts should be focused during this war".

"Under the current circumstances, I believe that real effectiveness in long-range operations, a genuinely strong background in security work that will ensure control over the internal situation across the components of the defence forces, and real experience in managing personnel at the SSU's Center of Special Operations Alpha should all be advantageous in the position of Ukraine's Minister of Defence," Zelenskyy stated.

The president made no mention of Ihor Klymenko or Mykhailo Fedorov in the post.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!