---
title: "Personnel purge in Kyiv: Zelensky appoints new acting head of SBU and replaces Minister of Defense"
description: "A massive personnel purge is unfolding in Kyiv: Zelensky has appointed Oleksandr Poklad as Acting Head of the SBU, while Mykhailo Fedorov has been dismissed from the post of Minister of Defense due to conflicts with the Armed Forces command. 🇺🇦👮‍♂️⚔️"
date: 2026-07-17T18:50:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/personnel-purge-in-kyiv-zelensky-appoints-new-acting-head-of-sbu-and-replaces-minister-of-defense
tags: [zelensky, sbu, ukraine, poklad, fedorov]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Personnel purge in Kyiv: Zelensky appoints new acting head of SBU and replaces Minister of Defense

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his desk in the office, with a portrait in the background, in the context of personnel changes in the SBU and Ministry of Defense](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/17/zelensky-naznachil-novogo-vo-glave-sbu-i-smenil-ministra-oborony/zelensky-naznachil-novogo-vo-glave-sbu-i-smenil-ministra-oborony-1.webp)

Massive personnel reshuffles are taking place in the security sector in Kyiv. On Friday, July 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Decree No. 622/2026, appointing Oleksandr Poklad as the Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

### New leadership of the intelligence agency

Until now, Poklad held the position of First Deputy Head of the agency. The text of the presidential decree explicitly states: "The First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Oleksandr Valentynovych Poklad, is to temporarily perform the duties of the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine." This decision became the next step in a series of changes within the highest echelons of Ukrainian power.

### Change of Minister of Defense and reasons for resignation

The appointment at the SBU occurred against the backdrop of the high-profile resignation of Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov. The day before, on July 16, Zelensky dismissed Fedorov from his post. The main reason for this decision was the ineffective interaction between the defense department and the military command, in particular with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky.

Following Fedorov's resignation, Major General Yevhen Khmara was appointed Minister of Defense, who had previously been serving as the Acting Head of the SBU. Thus, a chain reaction of replacements occurred within the security sector, affecting key posts in security and defense.

### Unsuccessful candidacy of Ihor Klymenko

Before making the final choice for the post of Minister of Defense, the president considered the option of appointing the former Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko. However, this candidacy did not receive sufficient support either in society or among the People's Deputies, which forced Zelensky to reconsider his plans and settle on Khmara.