Ukraine prepares for parliament vote on new defence leadership

Nexus Europa Newsroom
Posted Aug 20, 2026, 04:30 PM UTC · In the digest of 2026-08-20-1630
Ukraine prepares for parliament vote on new defence leadership
Photo: Seznam Zprávy

Ukrainian lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Yevhen Khmara's nomination as defence minister following a broader political and military leadership reshuffle in Kyiv.

Ukraine's parliament is set 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 leadership changes follow the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has since publicly criticised government management, raised corruption concerns, and called for wartime elections. At the same time, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Mykhailo Drapatyj, has begun overhauling military command structures, sidelining entrenched networks established under his predecessor and promoting frontline officers.

The coordinated political and military reshuffle represents a major realignment across Kyiv's defence apparatus amid ongoing wartime challenges.

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

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