On August 16, 2026, the Ukrainian political landscape witnessed a new wave of criticism directed at the country's military leadership. People's Deputy Maryana Bezuglaya published a statement in which she harshly criticized the actions of the acting Minister of Defense, Yevhen Khmara. According to the parliamentarian, during his month in office, the Major General has not demonstrated systemic reforms, focusing instead on public activity that she labeled as populist.
Accusations of Populism and Lack of Reforms
In her address, Bezuglaya pointed out that the ministry's reports on the expansion of hospital infrastructure and other public statements by the acting minister do not correspond to the real situation. The deputy emphasized that key issues, such as the reform of military medical boards (VVK), optimization of mobilization processes, and the logistics of evacuating the wounded, remain without due attention. "Unfortunately, so far Yevhen Khmara's populist statements and photos alternate with each other and only disappoint more with each passing day," she noted.
The central element of the appeal was an emotional plea to the leadership: "Yevhen Leonidovych, come to your senses!" Bezuglaya insists that the Major General should focus on solving strategic tasks, rather than creating an image through photo shoots and reports that, in her opinion, are detached from reality.
Political Context and Personnel Crisis
Bezuglaya's criticism is not an isolated fact. It continues a line started back in early August, when the deputy declared her unwillingness to support Khmara's candidacy for a permanent position in the Verkhovna Rada. The parliamentarian's main argument is that Khmara, being a former head of the SBU's special unit "Alpha," does not possess the necessary vision to implement civilian control over the armed forces.
Bezuglaya claims that Khmara's appointment as acting Minister of Defense was a temporary measure intended to smooth out public dissatisfaction following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov. In the deputy's opinion, the authorities are using this period to postpone making a final decision until the end of the parliamentary recess. However, the public intensification of criticism on August 16 is aimed at forcing the Office of the President to decide on a real candidate for the post of Minister of Defense.
Contradictory Data
In the information space, there are various assessments of the actions of the acting Minister of Defense. On the one hand, Maryana Bezuglaya and her supporters point to the lack of visible results in key areas of managing the military department. On the other hand, the official position of the Ministry of Defense and the Office of the President emphasizes that the reform process takes time and cannot be evaluated based on short-term indicators.
Furthermore, some sources mention that Bezuglaya uses formulations that may be perceived as personal attacks. However, the deputy herself in her official statements focuses on systemic management problems, rather than Khmara's personal qualities. This creates a certain uncertainty in the interpretation of her words and requires a cautious approach to analyzing the situation.
Prospects for the Situation
The situation surrounding the acting Minister of Defense Yevhen Khmara remains tense. It is expected that in the coming days the Verkhovna Rada will resume its work, and the question of his permanent appointment will be put to a vote. In the event that Bezuglaya and other deputies maintain their position, Khmara's candidacy may not receive support, which will lead to the need to find a new candidate.
Experts note that the current conflict reflects deeper contradictions in the Ukrainian political field between supporters of military and civilian management of the armed forces. The outcome of this confrontation could significantly affect the further development of Ukraine's military policy and its ability to effectively counter external threats.
