During a session on 19/8, 312 members of parliament voted to approve the appointment of acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara to lead the ministry. Only two voted against.

Speaking to parliament before the vote, Khmara pledged to "do everything to protect Ukraine, maximally weaken Russia's military potential, and force the enemy to accept a just peace."

When announcing Khmara's appointment as acting minister last month, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised him as a "seasoned expert", especially in technology warfare.

Khmara takes on the challenging role as President Zelensky faces new political turmoil, following weeks of protests over the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

This decision also came just one day after Fedorov called for Ukraine to hold early elections, which have been delayed due to the conflict with Russia.

Yevhen Khmara attended an event in Kyiv in May. Photo: AFP

In a statement released late on 18/8, Fedorov stated that the country faces a governance crisis and Ukraine's democratic process "should not become a hostage to Russia."

Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections during wartime. A poll on 5/8 by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that 57% of Ukrainians believe elections should only take place after the war ends.

"We must find a legal, safe, and practical mechanism to allow Ukraine to fully restore its democratic process even under prolonged war conditions," Fedorov said.

He did not mention whether he would run for office, but a recent poll showed Fedorov could easily defeat President Zelensky in a second-round election.

On 18/8, protesters once again gathered near the Ukrainian parliament building, calling for Fedorov's reinstatement, a request President Zelensky has refused.

Mykhailo Fedorov spoke in Kyiv, Ukraine on 1/7, when he was still defense minister. Photo: AP

Khmara is a former official of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), who once commanded the Alpha Special Operations Center within the SBU and oversaw long-range drone attack operations against Russia. He also commanded the operation to retake Snake Island in 2022 and was appointed acting head of the SBU in 1/2026.

His biography does not state his date or place of birth, but notes he has been involved in confrontations with Russian forces since 2014 and fought against the initial attacks on Ukraine from Moscow-backed separatists.

Khmara holds the rank of major general and has not previously held a government position. According to Ukrainian law, military officers must leave active service before taking on a permanent ministerial role.

Vu Hoang (According to Reuters, AFP, AP)