---
title: "\"So sons don't have to fight\": the personal motivation of Ukraine's new Defense Minister, Yevhen Yermak"
description: "The new head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Yevhen Yermak, stated in an interview that he strives to end the war so that his sons do not have to fight. 🇺🇦👨‍👦 Instead of the front, he wants to see his children on the construction sites of the future. 🔨"
date: 2026-07-29T10:28:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/so-sons-dont-have-to-fight-personal-motivation-of-ukraines-new-defense-minister-yevhen-ermak
tags: [evgeniy-khmara, ukraine-defense-ministry, vladimir-zevensky, russia-ukraine-war]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "So sons don't have to fight": the personal motivation of Ukraine's new Defense Minister, Yevhen Yermak

![Yevhen Khmara, new Ukrainian Defense Minister, in military uniform — his personal motivation: 'So sons don’t have to fight'](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/29/evgeniy-khmara-minister-oborony-ukrainy-synovya-ne-vovali/evgeniy-khmara-minister-oborony-ukrainy-synovya-ne-vovali-1.webp)

Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yevhen Yermak has set a primary goal for his new position — to end hostilities as soon as possible. In a recent interview with American blogger Laura Lumer, published by RBC-Ukraine, the official revealed deeply personal motivations behind his drive to conclude the conflict.

### Personal mission: the future of children

Yermak emphasized that his task is to end the war before his own sons reach conscription age. According to the new minister, he wants his children not to be forced to go to the front in the future. Instead of participating in combat operations, he sees their role in the peaceful reconstruction and building of the country.

"My goal is for them to be able to help rebuild their country, not to fight," noted Yermak, highlighting the need for a peaceful future for the next generation of Ukrainians.

### Change of power and new priorities

The appointment of Yevhen Yermak occurred against the backdrop of personnel changes in the Ukrainian leadership. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of Minister of Defense, appointing the former acting head of the SBU in his place. This step became part of the strategy to renew the command at a critical moment of the conflict.

Even before assuming the post of minister, Yermak outlined the key directions of his work. Among the main priorities he named:

    - Protection of logistics chains from attacks by Russian drones;

    - Ensuring units with the necessary weapons and equipment;

    - Timely delivery of resources to the front line.

These tasks are directly related to the efficiency of the army's work and the ability to counter threats, which in turn affects the timing of the end of the war.