--- title: "Volodymyr Zelenskyy submits proposal to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense of Ukraine" description: "🇺🇦 President Zelenskyy submits proposal to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Khmara is a professional military officer, former head of CSO \"A\" of the SBU, participant in operations to de-occupy Snake Island and strikes on the rear of the Russian Federation. His candidacy was discussed since July 2026, now the issue has been transferred to the Rada. #Ukraine #MinistryOfDefense #Khmara #Zelenskyy" date: 2026-08-18T13:20:05.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-submits-proposal-to-appoint-khmara-as-minister-of-defense-of-ukraine tags: [ukraine-war, ukraine-government, evgeny-khmara, ministry-of-defense, vladimir-zelensky] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Volodymyr Zelenskyy submits proposal to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense of Ukraine ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with Yevhen Khmara, whom he has nominated for the position of Minister of Defense](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/18/zeleny-vnes-predstavlenie-o-naznachenii-khmary-ministrom-oborony-ukrainy/zeleny-vnes-predstavlenie-o-naznachenii-khmary-ministrom-oborony-ukrainy-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Volodymyr Zelenskyy submits proposal to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense of Ukraine. - Khmara previously acted as head of the SBU and headed CSO "A" of the SBU. - His candidacy was discussed since July 2026 after the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov. - The appointment issue will be considered by the Verkhovna Rada in the near future. - There are contradictory opinions about the prospects and consequences of the appointment. On August 18, 2026, a key personnel decision in the Ukrainian government was announced: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially submitted a proposal to the Verkhovna Rada to appoint Yevhen Khmara as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Currently, Khmara has been acting as the head of the ministry since July 20, 2026, but his status was temporary. Now the issue moves to the parliamentary stage — Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk confirmed the receipt of the document and noted that the consideration will take place in the near future. ### Political context and prerequisites for the appointment The appointment of Khmara comes against the backdrop of a prolonged crisis in the Ministry of Defense following the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov in early 2026. Initially, the candidacy of Ihor Klymenko was considered, but it sparked sharp criticism from the public and experts. As a result, after the July government update led by Serhiy Koretskyi, the positions of heads of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained vacant — according to the Constitution of Ukraine, candidates for these posts are submitted personally by the President. This created a unique situation where the military department remained without a permanent head for more than two months. ### Professional path of Yevhen Khmara Yevhen Khmara is a professional military officer with a rich combat biography. Since 2011, he served in the Center for Special Operations "A" of the SBU, and in 2023 he headed this unit. He participated in battles for Kyiv region and Donetsk region, personally led the special operation to de-occupy Snake Island, and also took part in Operation "Web" and the organization of systematic drone strikes on objects in the deep rear of Russia — airfields, oil refineries, and ammunition depots. Under his leadership, CSO "A" destroyed Russian equipment worth more than $5.5 billion, including more than 1800 tanks. Khmara is a recipient of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree and the "Cross of Combat Merit". ### Transition from SBU to Ministry of Defense Since January 5, 2026, Khmara acted as the head of the SBU, which became an important stage in his career. However, already in July 2026, he was appointed acting Minister of Defense. According to RBC-Ukraine sources, in government circles, the option of amending the law to allow a military officer to head the Ministry of Defense during martial law was considered, but in the end, Khmara will resign from military service for the position of minister. This decision underscores the seriousness of the approach to personnel issues in the conditions of the ongoing military conflict. ### Contradictory data There are differences in the assessment of Khmara's appointment prospects. On the one hand, sources in parliament indicate that he has the support of the majority of factions, especially given his combat experience and results of work in the SBU. On the other hand, some political forces express concerns about a possible conflict of interest between his previous role in the intelligence services and his new position in the defense department. In addition, there are opinions that his appointment may be perceived as a step towards the militarization of the country's management, which causes controversy in society. ### Expectations and consequences The appointment of Khmara as Minister of Defense could become a turning point in Ukraine's strategy in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia. His experience in conducting special operations and managing intelligence structures could be useful for coordinating actions between the military and intelligence services. However, the success of his work will depend on the ability to adapt to new tasks and ensure effective management of a huge department. It is also important how he will interact with other members of the government and international partners. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine resumes work against the backdrop of unresolved crises in the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://ru.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/18/ukrainian-parliament-back) - Подтверждает факт возобновления работы Рады и контекст кризиса в Минобороны. - [Ukrainian Minister of Defense promises that Russia will burn](https://rossaprimavera.ru/news/174e38e3) - Подтверждает агрессивную риторику нового министра, что соответствует его боевому прошлому. - ["Public": there are not enough votes in the Rada for the appointment of the Minister of Defense](https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/28020215) - Подтверждает наличие противоречивых мнений в парламенте. - [Yevhen Khmara appointed acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8829264) - Подтверждает факт назначения Хмары врио министра обороны. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who is Yevhen Khmara? **A:** Yevhen Khmara is a professional military officer, former head of CSO "A" of the SBU, participant in operations to de-occupy Snake Island and strikes on the rear of the Russian Federation. ### Q: When was the proposal to appoint Khmara submitted? **A:** The proposal was submitted on August 18, 2026. ### Q: What is Khmara's status before the official appointment? **A:** Khmara has been acting as Minister of Defense since July 20, 2026. ### Q: Are there contradictions in the assessment of his candidacy? **A:** Yes, there are concerns about a conflict of interest and the militarization of the country's management.