A major personnel reshuffle has taken place in the Ukrainian government. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed to the parliament the appointment of SBU Major General Evgeny Khmara as the Acting Minister of Defense. This decision was the result of a complex political process that began with an attempt to appoint Igor Klimenko to this post, which sparked a wave of criticism in society.
From Special Forces to the Cabinet of Ministers
Evgeny Khmara is a figure whose career is inextricably linked to elite special units and combat operations. Before his appointment as Acting Head of the SBU in January 2026, he was known primarily as a professional military officer and special forces operator.
His service in the Center for Special Operations "A" (known as "Alpha") began back in 2011. In 2023, Khmara took command of this elite unit. During his tenure, he led a number of outstanding operations that allowed CSO "A" to enter the top three most effective units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Combat Path and Statistics
Khmara's personal combat path began during the heaviest days of the full-scale invasion. He took direct part in the battles for the liberation of the Kyiv region. After the de-occupation of the northern regions, the general continued to fight against Russian troops on the Donetsk front.
Under his leadership, the unit achieved impressive results in destroying enemy equipment. As of early 2026, CSO "A" fighters have more than 1,800 tanks destroyed to their credit, as well as thousands of armored vehicles, artillery systems, and air defense assets. With the help of drones, the unit destroyed Russian equipment worth more than $5.5 billion.
For courage and the defense of sovereignty, Evgeny Khmara became a full recipient of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky I–III degrees, as well as being awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree and the distinction "Cross of Combat Merit".
Political Context of the Appointment
Khmara's appointment as Minister of Defense took place against the backdrop of the formation of a new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers led by Serhiy Koretskyi, which was approved on July 16. President Zelenskyy announced a "reboot" of the government to implement an updated political strategy.
However, difficulties arose with the vacancies of two key posts — Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs. As expected, Andrii Sybyha is expected to be reappointed as Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The situation with the Ministry of Defense was more complex.
Initially, Zelenskyy planned to replace the incumbent Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with Igor Klimenko, who previously headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, this candidacy caused outrage both in society and among parliamentarians. As a result, to overcome the crisis and approve the government, the candidacy of Evgeny Khmara was chosen.
In the future, the president plans to propose to the Verkhovna Rada to appoint the Major General as Minister of Defense in full, solidifying his status in this post.
