Zelenskyy nominates new defence minister amid Ukrainian military shake-up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially submitted the nomination of former secret service head Yevhen Khmara as Defence Minister to parliament, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday. The Verkhovna Rada is also set to vote on confirming Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha following recent cabinet changes.

The political reshuffle follows the dismissal of former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who publicly criticized government corruption and called for wartime elections, citing a governance crisis. Concurrently, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has assumed leadership of the armed forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyj. Drapatyj has initiated structural changes aimed at dismantling internal patronage networks and resolving command issues highlighted during recent military disputes.

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