Ukraine's parliament to vote on new defence minister amid military overhaul

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a formal proposal to parliament to appoint former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday. Lawmakers are also expected to vote on confirming Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following political reshuffling triggered by the dismissal of former defence minister Mychajlo Fedorov.

Concurrently, newly appointed armed forces commander Mychajlo Drapatyj has begun dismantling organizational structures established under his predecessor to address internal command friction. The leadership transition comes as Ukraine faces intensified Russian drone and missile strikes targeting critical infrastructure, including fuel depots and postal facilities. Former minister Fedorov warned that defensive capabilities must rapidly improve, stating, "if we do not stand up to them, they will crush us."

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