Zelenskyy sets out expectations for new defence minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set out his expectations of Yevhenii Khmara as defence minister in his evening address, but made no mention of the searches carried out today at the home of Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President's Office, by Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address on 19 August

Quote: "My main task for Ukraine's defence minister in the current circumstances is to genuinely reconfigure our defence system, our production and procurement system, and our system for supplying the troops."

Details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine must be confident in its defence and positions ahead of winter.

Quote: "Yevhenii Khmara proved through his service at Alpha [Special Operations Centre, part of the Security Service of Ukraine] that he does not make empty promises and knows full well that the occupiers are not defeated with hollow pledges.

I expect the Ministry of Defence to expand the scope of our long-range strikes, to work with Ukrainian weapons manufacturers to provide more capabilities to protect Ukrainian skies, and to work with our partners to strengthen our defensive operations and offensive actions. There is already good cooperation between Khmara and Drapatyi [Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief]."

Background:

• The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) has appointed Yevhenii Khmara, the former acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, as Ukraine's new defence minister.
• Earlier on 19 August, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported that they are conducting a special operation to expose a criminal organisation which investigators say has been operating under the leadership of a current and a former MP. Senior officials from the President's Office and other individuals are also said to be involved.
• Sources have told Ukrainska Pravda that the anti-corruption agencies are conducting searches as part of a special operation on premises belonging to MP Vadym Stolar, who was elected to parliament from the now-banned Opposition Platform – For Life party, and Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the President's Office.

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