Zelenskyy submits Khmara defence nomination to parliament amid military restructuring

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially submitted the nomination of former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as Defence Minister to parliament, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday alongside the confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The political move follows the dismissal of former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who subsequently criticized government corruption and called for wartime elections. Fedorov’s removal triggered public protests and highlighted tensions within the military command structure.

Concurrently, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has begun restructuring the armed forces' leadership. Drapatyj, recognized for his actions during the 2014 Mariupol operations, is working to dismantle patronage networks left by previous leadership and reform how the military manages successful battlefield commanders.

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