President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced Yevheniy Khmara as Minister of Defence. His team has been given a clear task: to fine-tune the system of defense, production, procurement, and supply in the armed forces.
Yevheniy Khmara said work is already underway on three key priorities. These are strengthening the front, the defence industry, and human assets, the ministry’s post says.
“At the center of every decision by the Ministry of Defence is the Ukrainian soldier. The quality of training, provision, weapons, medicine, and recovery are the key focuses of our work. A separate task is protecting people in cities and villages. The Ministry of Defence will respond as quickly as possible to changes in Russian strikes and build protection so that jet-powered Shaheds or any other means of terror do not help the enemy,” it said.
Separately, the ministry will work on strengthening air defence. The MoD also plans to accelerate programs to produce Ukrainian ballistic and anti-ballistic capabilities, protection against UAVs, and effective development of various types of drones, including for long- and medium-range strikes.
Yevheniy Khmara has led the Ministry of Defence as acting minister since 16 July. The Cabinet appointed him on the president’s instruction after the previous minister, Mykhaylo Fedorov, lost his post during the government reshuffle. On 18 August, the president submitted Yevheniy Khmara’s candidacy for the post, and the next day lawmakers approved it. To appoint him as defence minister, Khmara was discharged from military service, as required by law.
Since January, Yevheniy Khmara has headed the Security Service as acting chief. Before that, he led the SBU’s Special Operations Centre A — one of the most effective units which specialises on deep strikes.