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Zelensky appoints Yevhen Khmara as new Minister of Defence

Following protests, the Ukrainian president formalized Yevhen Khmara's appointment as Defence Minister and confirmed Andrii Sybiha as Foreign Minister.

19 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Zelensky appoints Yevhen Khmara as new Minister of Defence — Archive photoPhoto: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · Flickr · BY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky formally appointed Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defence on Tuesday. This decision follows protests regarding the country's military management, particularly in response to criticisms related to the ongoing defence strategy.

Zelensky also announced that Andrii Sybiha will continue to serve as Foreign Minister, a position he has held temporarily since a government reshuffle in July. This retention of Sybiha is seen as a move to stabilize the government during a critical period.

In the context of the appointments, Zelensky categorically ruled out the possibility of Mykhailo Fedorov returning to the government. The former Minister of Digital Transformation had faced calls to return to the cabinet, but the president dismissed that option.

The formalization of the new appointments comes at a delicate moment for Zelensky's administration, which is facing both internal and external pressures, along with the ongoing repercussions of the conflict with Russia.

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