On August 17, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 728/2026, appointing Serhiy Naumenko as the First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine. This decision is part of a large-scale personnel restructuring in the country's key security structures, aimed at enhancing management efficiency amid the ongoing military conflict.
New leader: Naumenko's experience and reputation
Serhiy Mykolayovych Naumenko is a police colonel who has served as the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine since September 2025. His career is closely linked to the security sector: in 2022, he headed an intelligence unit specializing in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) at the front. During an artillery strike in the city of Rubizhne, Naumenko was wounded, an event that became part of his combat path and helped form his reputation as an officer ready to take responsibility in critical situations.
Dismissal of Ostrianskyi: end of an era?
Parallel to Naumenko's appointment, the President signed Decree No. 727/2026 dismissing Yevhen Ostrianskyi from the position of First Deputy Secretary of the NSDC. The official reasons for the dismissal have not been disclosed; however, analysts link this to the need to refresh the team and increase the operational efficiency of the NSDC ahead of the autumn-winter period, when increased tension on the front and potential attacks on critical infrastructure are expected.
Contradictory data
While official sources confirm Naumenko's appointment and Ostrianskyi's dismissal, some media outlets, including news.mail.ru, report on parallel personnel changes in other security structures—specifically, the dismissal of General Karpenko, who was close to the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Syrskyi. However, this data is not confirmed by official presidential decrees and may be related to internal reshuffles within the SBU or other agencies. Currently, there is no single version of whether these events are part of a unified reform plan or disparate actions by different departments.
Context: Kyiv's resilience plan and new appointments
Naumenko's appointment comes against the backdrop of Kyiv's approval of a Resilience Plan ahead of the autumn-winter period. The document provides for preparing the city for possible attacks on critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, transport hubs, and communication systems. It is also worth noting that the President previously appointed Yuri Pohrebny as the Commander of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, indicating a systematic approach to strengthening the country's defense capabilities.
Reaction of Ihor Klymenko: trust and continuity
Ihor Klymenko, the Secretary of the NSDC, who was himself appointed to this position on August 3, 2026, commented on Naumenko's appointment in his Telegram channel. He noted that he had worked with him in the Ministry of Internal Affairs system and called him a "professional officer with combat experience, capable of taking responsibility and working for results." This statement underscores the continuity between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the NSDC, as well as the new Secretary's trust in his First Deputy.
