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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Elections & Politics

Yevhen Hmara appointed Ukraine's new defense minister

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Yevhen Hmara has been appointed Ukraine's new defense minister by the Verkhovna Rada, with 312 deputies supporting his candidacy.
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated Hmara, who had been acting defense minister since July 20, to address disagreements and unresolved issues on the front lines.
  • Hmara previously served as acting head of the SBU and led the 'Alpha' Center for Special Operations, reportedly commanding the operation to liberate Snake Island in 2022.

Yevhen Hmara is Ukraine's new defense minister, appointed by the Verkhovna Rada with 312 votes in favor. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put forward Hmara's candidacy, filling a role he had temporarily held since July 20. Hmara replaces Mykhailo Fedorov, who left the post in July.

Zelenskyy cited disagreements between Fedorov and then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, along with unresolved issues on the front lines, in brigades, and concerning mobilization, as reasons for the change. Fedorov's departure sparked protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, with participants demanding his return and Syrskyi's dismissal.

Before his current appointment, Hmara served as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) from January to July 2026. Prior to that, he led the SBU's 'Alpha' Center for Special Operations. Ukrainian media report that Hmara commanded the operation to liberate Snake Island in the summer of 2022.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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