---
title: "Ukrainian Defense Minister: Urgent Faction Meeting and Uncertainty Over Candidate"
description: "An urgent meeting of the SN faction is expected in the Rada this evening: deputies must decide on the Minister of Defense. For now, Mykhailo Fedorov is not performing duties, and the successor's name is kept secret. 🇺🇦🏛️"
date: 2026-07-16T14:08:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/urgent-faction-meeting-defense-minister-july-16-en
tags: [sergey-koretsky, olga-vasilevskaya-smagliuk, verkhovna-rada, ukraine-defense-minister, sluga-naroda]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ukrainian Defense Minister: Urgent Faction Meeting and Uncertainty Over Candidate

![Urgent faction meeting in the Verkhovna Rada: deputies against the backdrop of Ukrainian and EU flags discuss the defense minister candidate](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/zasedanie-sluga-naroda-ministr-oborony-16-iyulya/zasedanie-sluga-naroda-ministr-oborony-16-iyulya-1.webp)

A tense political drama is unfolding in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding the formation of the new government. Immediately after the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers' composition, with the exception of two key portfolios, uncertainty arose in parliament. The 'Servant of the People' faction may hold an emergency meeting this evening, July 16, the main topic of which will be the appointment of the Minister of Defense.

### Urgent Faction Meeting

According to sources, deputies from the ruling party have been informed about the possible holding of another faction meeting today at 21:00. It is expected that the candidacy for the post of Minister of Defense will be discussed at this meeting. Deputy from 'Servant of the People' Olga Vasilyevska-Smagliuk confirmed that the process of selecting the head of the defense ministry is not yet complete: 'Regarding the Minister of Defense, it is not yet evening, and we need to wait a couple of hours.'

### Opposition Skepticism and Recess

However, not all politicians are optimistic. Deputy from the 'Voice' party Yaroslav Zheleznyak pointed out that the previous meeting of the SN faction, which was supposed to take place after the vote for the new Cabinet, lasted only a few minutes. According to him, the next meeting may take place either this evening, or one will have to wait until August, as the people's deputies have already gone on vacation, and the new session of parliament is scheduled only for August 18.

### Legal Vacuum and Candidates

Zheleznyak also claims that since the approval of the new government, Mykhailo Fedorov has no longer been acting as Minister of Defense, creating a temporary legal vacuum in this position. Earlier, on July 15, rumors circulated in parliament that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intended to propose Ihor Klymenko for this position. However, the corresponding nomination has not yet been submitted to the Rada.

Recall that today, July 16, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Serhiy Koretsky to the position of Prime Minister of Ukraine and approved the new composition of the government. The exceptions were the posts of Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, which are appointed upon the President's nomination. The head of the MFA remains Andrii Sybyga, while the question of the Minister of Defense remains open.