Ukraine prepares for defence leadership vote amid military command shake-up

Ukrainian lawmakers are scheduled to vote on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination of former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, alongside the confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The parliamentary vote follows the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose removal prompted public scrutiny and debate over governance.

Following his dismissal, Fedorov publicly advocated for wartime elections, warning of deep-seated corruption and leadership challenges across state institutions. Concurrently, newly appointed military commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has begun overhauling top command structures to eliminate entrenched patronage systems and introduce younger, combat-tested officers into senior decision-making roles. The coordinated leadership adjustments come as Kyiv seeks to strengthen military operational efficiency and administrative accountability during ongoing front-line operations against Russian forces.

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