Ukrainian parliament prepares to vote on new defence and foreign ministers

Ukrainian lawmakers are 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 parliamentary vote follows the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has publicly criticized government corruption and called for wartime national elections.

Simultaneously, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has begun restructuring the armed forces hierarchy. Drapatyj, recognized for his operational leadership dating back to 2014 combat actions in Mariupol, is working to dismantle internal patronage networks and streamline military management. The organizational overhaul addresses systemic command issues and internal friction previously highlighted during the recent leadership transition.

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