Ukrainian parliament appoints Khmara as defence minister
The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) has appointed Yevhenii Khmara, the former acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, as Ukraine's new defence minister.
Source: broadcast of the parliamentary session on 19 August
Details: A total of 312 MPs voted in favour of the appointment.
Halyna Mykhailiuk, President's Representative in the Verkhovna Rada, presented Khmara's candidacy from the parliamentary rostrum. She said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy currently considers Khmara the optimal candidate for the position of defence minister.
Opposition representatives expressed their indignation, saying they would have preferred to hear from Zelenskyy in person and listen to his reasoning.
Responding to an MP's question about his status, as only a civilian can legally serve as defence minister, Khmara said that he had been discharged from military service under Article 26 of Ukraine's Law "On Military Duty and Military Service", "as part of organisational measures for senior officers".
In his speech, Khmara outlined his main priorities in the position, including forcing the Russians to accept a just peace through military force and the effective use of technology.
The candidate promised that "there will be more Ukrainian weapons, and their strikes will be more precise".
The newly appointed minister took the oath from the parliamentary rostrum.
Background:
- On 18 August, Zelenskyy submitted a nomination to parliament for Yevhenii Khmara to be appointed defence minister and Andrii Sybiha to be appointed foreign minister.
- On 19 August, the parliamentary defence committee unanimously backed Khmara's nomination for defence minister, with all 15 members voting in favour.
- Protests in support of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov have been ongoing in Ukraine for more than a month.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!