The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as the Minister of Defense with 312 votes. Nominated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Khmara previously served as acting minister following the government reshuffle in July. Addressing parliamentarians prior to the vote, Khmara confirmed his formal discharge from military service pursuant to Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine on Military Duty and Military Service, officially assuming the position as a civilian.
As reported by RBC-Ukraine, the newly appointed defense chief outlined five strategic priorities, placing primary emphasis on deep-strike and middle-strike operations targeting Russian military units and strategic infrastructure. His agenda further prioritizes accelerating frontline weapons delivery, scaling up domestic defense industrial production, improving military training and service regulations, and streamlining operational coordination between executive bodies, the General Staff, defense contractors, and international partners. Khmara emphasized that long-range strikes and domestic weaponry must play a decisive role in regaining strategic initiative.
Khmara brings a career background in special operations and defense technology deployment to the role. Joining the SBU Alpha Special Operations Center in 2011, he assumed command of the unit in 2023, personally leading combat operations in the Kyiv and Donetsk regions, as well as the liberation of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island. Under his leadership, the unit executed uncrewed aerial vehicle strikes against targets deep inside Russian territory as part of Operation Web, destroying an estimated $5.5 billion in enemy military equipment, including over 1,800 tanks. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Khmara served as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine starting January 5, 2026.