The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to appoint Major General Evgeny Khmara as the acting Minister of Defense. The relevant government decrees No. 722-r and No. 723-r were published on the official government portal.
Starting July 20, Khmara will lead the Ministry of Defense. Previously, on July 17, the government appointed him Deputy Minister of Defense—a decision that was also officially formalized and announced.
Earlier, on July 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he had instructed the then-acting head of the SBU, Evgeny Khmara, to temporarily head the defense ministry. The head of state noted that after completing all necessary legal procedures, he intends to submit a proposal to the Verkhovna Rada for his official appointment as Minister of Defense.
Thus, until the confirmation of a new permanent head of the Ministry of Defense, the functions of the department’s leader have been assigned to Major General Khmara. His career and prior experience in law enforcement agencies are detailed in an RBK-Ukraine report.
