Zelenskyy submits cabinet nominations as Ukraine reshuffles military leadership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has formally nominated former secret service head Yevhen Khmara as Defence Minister, alongside Andrii Sybiha as Foreign Minister. Parliament is scheduled to vote on the confirmations on Wednesday, 19 August, according to opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak.

The leadership changes follow the mid-July dismissal of former Defence Minister Mychajlo Fedorov. Fedorov publicly criticized corruption and systemic issues in military command, calling for national elections despite the ongoing war. His removal triggered unusual public protests across the country.

Concurrently, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mychajlo Drapatyj has begun restructuring the armed forces' command hierarchy, aiming to dismantle informal patronage systems established under previous leadership to improve battlefield effectiveness.

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