Zelensky appoints Ukraine's acting security service chief as acting defense minister
Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Yevhenii Khmara, a former head of Ukraine's SBU and a veteran of long-range strike operations, as Ukraine's acting defense minister following a government reshuffle and widespread protests. This appointment is controversial due to Ukrainian law requiring defense ministers to be civilians, raising questions about compliance with existing legislation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine’s acting defense minister, a move following a recent government reshuffle and significant public demonstrations. The appointment comes after the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, leading to widespread protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Under Ukrainian law, the defense minister and deputy defense ministers must be civilians, a requirement that has been questioned regarding Khmara’s previous role as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a military intelligence agency. Khmara has been serving as the SBU head since January, following the dismissal of his predecessor, Vasyl Malyuk. Prior to that, he led the SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Center, an elite unit involved in counterterrorism operations and intelligence support, including some of Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russian targets. During the initial stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Khmara participated in operations aimed at pushing Russian forces out of the Kyiv region. Several Ukrainian lawmakers have expressed concerns that Khmara’s appointment does not adhere to the legal requirements for defense ministry leadership.