--- title: "Khmar Retains Defense Ministry Team: What Is Known About New Priorities and Talks with Fedorov" description: "Defense Minister Khmar stated that the ministry's current team will be retained, with the digital transformation and cognitive warfare areas to be strengthened. On the question of Fedorov's return, no feedback has been received yet." date: 2026-08-30T11:14:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/khmar-retains-defense-ministry-team-new-priorities-and-fedorov tags: [ukraine, defense-ministry, evgeny-khmara, mykhailo-fedorov, military-reform, digital-transformation] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Khmar Retains Defense Ministry Team: What Is Known About New Priorities and Talks with Fedorov ![Military officer in uniform with an SBU patch against the Ukrainian flag — image from the story on Khmara keeping the Defense Ministry team and talks with Fyodorov](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/30/khmara-sokhranil-komandu-minoborony-novye-napravleniya-i-fedorov/khmara-sokhranil-komandu-minoborony-novye-napravleniya-i-fedorov-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Khmar retained the Defense Ministry's current team, betting on continuity - The ministry is strengthening two new areas: digital transformation and cognitive warfare - One meeting with Fedorov took place in July; no specific positions were offered, and there is no feedback Ukraine's Minister of Defense Yevhen Khmar stated his intention to keep the ministry's current team in place, while also announcing the strengthening of certain areas. He said so during a conversation with journalists, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. According to the minister, his key priority at the start of his work in the new role is ensuring continuity and stability within the Defense Ministry, which is undergoing a personnel reshuffle following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov. ### Continuity as the Foundation: What Stays in the Ministry "The ministry retains strong specialists with the necessary expertise and a state-oriented stance. Their task is to ensure the continuity of work, carry on important projects, and strengthen the areas that require additional attention," Khmar emphasized. Thus, a mass personnel overhaul in the ministry's apparatus is not expected: the current heads of structural units keep their positions, while new appointments will be targeted and tied to specific tasks. This decision can be seen as a signal that Khmar intends to rely on a proven managerial resource rather than start reforming from scratch amid an ongoing war. ### Two New Vectors: Digitalization and Cognitive Warfare In a separate block, the minister named two areas that the Defense Ministry will deliberately strengthen. The first is digital transformation. For this post, according to RBC-Ukraine, a candidate with combat experience and experience working directly within the Defense Ministry structure is being considered. The second area is cognitive warfare. Here, according to Khmar, a candidate has already been selected, and the tasks for the new unit or position have been defined. Both vectors indicate that the ministry intends not only to maintain current defense functions but also to develop the information-cognitive and technological dimensions of national security. ### The Fedorov Question: One Meeting and No Feedback Journalists separately asked about the possible role of Mykhailo Fedorov in the new Defense Ministry lineup. Khmar confirmed that a single meeting with the former minister took place in July 2026, at which he offered to "find any model or format for continuing joint work on projects." At the same time, as the minister clarified, no specific positions or roles were offered during the conversation. As of the time the statement was published, no feedback had been received from Fedorov. Thus, formally, the question of Fedorov's return to the ministry's structure remains open, but it is not a priority in the current personnel agenda. ### Context of the Appointment: From Acting to Full Leadership Recall that Yevhen Khmar took the helm of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on August 19, 2026, moving from the status of acting minister to full head of the ministry. He was appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov. On the same day, in the Verkhovna Rada, Khmar announced his resignation from military service, which was a necessary condition for holding a civilian position. Prior to his appointment, he had already outlined the priorities for his work in the new post, including reform of the mobilization system and cooperation with the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support (TCRS), as reported by Ukrainian media between August 18 and 30, 2026. ### Contradictory Data No significant contradictions were found in the provided sources. The only nuance: an analytical piece on pravda.com.ua dated August 18, 2026 (one day before the official appointment) discusses the question of "how Khmar can head the Defense Ministry," reflecting his acting status at that time. After August 19, this question became rhetorical — the appointment had taken place. No differences in figures, dates, or the content of statements between sources were detected. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Khmar Reveals the Composition of His Defense Ministry Team and Says What He Offered Fedorov](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/hmara-rozkriv-sklad-svoeyi-komandi-minoboroni-1788088017.html) - Первичный источник: прямые цитаты министра о сохранении команды, новых направлениях и встрече с Фёдоровым в июле. - [A General in a Civilian Post: How Khmar Can Head the Defense Ministry After Fedorov and What ...](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2026/08/18/8049180/) - Аналитический контекст от 18.08.2026 (до назначения). Подтверждает статус и.о. и общую кадровую ситуацию. - [Arbitrary Actions of the TCRS: Khmar's Team Outlines a Plan of Action](https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/4904954-proyzvol-ttsk-u-khmary-rasskazaly-o-plane-deistvyi) - Контекст по приоритетам Хмары в сфере мобилизации и ТЦК, согласуется с заявлением о сохранении команды. - [Radical Changes to Mobilization: From the TCRS to Conscription Age — What Khmar's Team Is Preparing](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/radikalnye-izmeneniya-v-mobilizatsii-ot-ttsk-do-prizyvnogo-vozrasta-chto-gotovit-komanda-hmary-3153851.html) - Подтверждает наличие действующей команды Хмары и её планы по реформированию мобилизационной системы. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Will Khmar keep the entire Defense Ministry team unchanged? **A:** Khmar stated that the priority is retaining current specialists, but targeted new appointments will be made. In particular, a candidate for the digital transformation area is being considered, while a candidate for cognitive warfare has already been selected. ### Q: Will Mykhailo Fedorov return to the Defense Ministry? **A:** According to Khmar, a single meeting took place in July 2026, at which the minister offered to find a format for joint work, but no specific positions were offered. At the time of the statement, there was no feedback from Fedorov. ### Q: When did Khmar become Minister of Defense? **A:** Yevhen Khmar took the helm of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on August 19, 2026, moving from the status of acting minister. Before that, he was appointed by President Zelenskyy following Fedorov's dismissal.