Ukraine advances major military and defence leadership reshuffle

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Posted Aug 21, 2026, 09:00 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-08-21-0900
Ukraine advances major military and defence leadership reshuffle
Photo: Seznam Zprávy

Ukrainian lawmakers prepare to vote on a new defence minister as Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj overhauls military leadership.

Ukraine's parliament is set to vote on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination of intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as the country's new defence minister, alongside the formal confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The ministerial transition follows the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose exit sparked widespread public debate. Fedorov subsequently criticised systemic governance problems, raised allegations of corruption within the defence establishment, and called for national elections during wartime.

Concurrently, newly appointed armed forces commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has initiated a comprehensive structural overhaul of Ukraine's military command. Drapatyj's reforms focus on dismantling established patronage networks and promoting battle-tested frontline officers to key operational leadership roles across the armed services.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

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