The Ukrainian parliament has approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination of Yevheniy Khmara as the country's new minister of defence. A total of 312 members of parliament voted in favour of the decision in the Verkhovna Rada.
Davyd Arakhamia, head of the ruling Servant of the People parliamentary faction, stated on Telegram that Khmara is a combat officer who has repeatedly risked his life for Ukraine. Arakhamia added that Khmara had performed well during his military service and while carrying out duties as acting defence minister.
Under the Constitution of Ukraine, the president directly submits candidates for the roles of defence minister and foreign minister to parliament for consideration. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament based in Kyiv, must vote to confirm the appointments.
Addressing lawmakers, Khmara confirmed that he is now a civilian, fulfilling the legal requirement under Ukrainian law that the minister of defence must be a civilian. He stated that he had been discharged from military service under Article 26 of the law on military duty and service following organizational measures for senior officers.
Defence priorities and military strategy
Khmara outlined three equal priorities for his ministry: supporting the front line and strengthening the military, preserving human capital, and developing the defence industry. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces must intercept the strategic initiative across all domains, including land, sea, air, and the information space.
Speaking in parliament, Khmara said that forcing the enemy to peace could only be achieved through the strength of the army, technological solutions, and symmetrical responses. He noted that Ukraine is already carrying out strikes against targets as far away as Siberia in the Russian Federation.
Siberia is a vast geographic region in eastern Russia that houses major energy facilities and industrial infrastructure. Khmara stated that Russian defence manufacturing, military logistics, fuel infrastructure, and the enemy's entire economic base are active targets that require rapid action.
The new defence minister stressed that the military requires weapons in large quantities, delivered on time, and focused on achieving concrete results. He pledged that procurement procedures would operate transparently and without bureaucracy to serve the front line directly rather than individual interests, while preserving positive work and effective personnel within the ministry.
Government reshuffle and previous leadership
The parliamentary vote follows a major cabinet reshuffle reported by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. On July 14, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada supported the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, which automatically triggered the resignation of the entire Ukrainian government.
Prior to the government's resignation, the Ministry of Defence was headed by Mykhailo Fedorov, who served for six months after taking office on January 14, 2026. President Zelenskyy did not propose that Fedorov re-assume the defence portfolio, though Fedorov declined other personnel offers made to him.
Fedorov's departure prompted street demonstrations across several Ukrainian cities, known as the cardboard Maidan protests, where participants demanded his return to the defence ministry. Khmara now takes office as defence minister following the confirmation vote.
