On August 19, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is preparing to approve new government appointments, including the candidacy of Yevhen Khmara for the position of Minister of Defense. According to sources in the "Servant of the People" faction, Khmara intends to retain key specialists from the current MoD leadership, especially those responsible for the reform of public procurement. This reform is critical for ensuring transparency and the efficient use of European financial resources allocated to Ukraine as part of military aid.
Key figures: Viskub and Bannik
Khmara paid special attention to two officials — Viskub and Bannik, who directly oversee procurement issues in the defense department. According to sources, he personally offered them to remain in their positions, emphasizing their irreplaceability in the context of the ongoing military conflict. Retaining these specialists is seen as a strategic step to ensure the continuity of reforms and trust from international donors.
Priorities of the new minister: long-range strikes and military salaries
Among the main priorities, Khmara named the development of capabilities for long-range strikes on Russian territory. In his view, this direction should become one of the key elements of Ukraine's defense strategy. Deputies also raised the issue of increasing salaries for military personnel. Khmara noted that solving this problem requires not only the efforts of the MoD but also support from the government and parliament — in particular, the adoption of laws allowing an increase in budget revenues.
Reform of TCC and cooperation with Drapat
As for the reform of territorial recruitment centers (TCC), detailed plans were not announced during the meeting with "Servant of the People." However, Khmara emphasized that he is "on the same page" with General Mykhailo Drapat, who previously dealt with mobilization and recruitment issues. This indicates a possible continuation of joint work on optimizing the conscription system and resource distribution.
Political context and prospects for appointment
Recall that on August 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a proposal for the appointment of Yevhen Khmara as head of the MoD and Andriy Sybiga as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Earlier, in July 2026, after the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov, Khmara already held the position of Acting Minister of Defense. Since the law requires the MoD to be headed by a civilian, the option of changing norms during martial law was considered. However, most likely, Khmara will resign from military service to formally comply with legal requirements.
Contradictory data
Although sources in the "Servant of the People" faction positively assess the meeting with Khmara and predict support for his candidacy in parliament, some experts express caution. In particular, DW notes that Khmara is a "combat officer instead of a visionary," which may limit his ability for strategic planning. Furthermore, in July 2026, when Khmara was appointed acting minister, disputes arose regarding his military service and the need to change legislation. These contradictions could affect the speed and success of the approval of his candidacy.
