Close the matter. Will the Rada finalize the high-profile cabinet reshuffle by appointing Khmara as defense minister

Yevheniy Khmara could officially head the Ministry of Defense as soon as tomorrow after the high-profile cabinet reshuffle and a month serving as acting minister.

Key points: Appointment of Khmara: Tomorrow the Rada plans to appoint Yevheniy Khmara to the post of minister of defense after a month of his serving as acting minister. Reasons for Fedorov’s dismissal: The dismissal of the previous defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, occurred amid disagreements and a conflict with the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Public reaction: Fedorov’s dismissal sparked “cardboard protests” in front of the Franko Theater demanding the former minister be reinstated. Cabinet personnel reshuffle: The new prime minister post was taken by the head of Naftogaz, Serhii Koretskyi; former interior minister Ihor Klymenko became secretary of the National Security and Defense Council; and Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed the new Commander-in-Chief. Ministerial status: Before the appointment, Yevheniy Khmara, who previously temporarily led the SBU, must be discharged from military service because, by law, the position of defense minister is civilian. Cabinet update: how it unfolded In mid-July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suddenly announced his intention to refresh the Cabinet. Within a few days, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko lost her post, and the entire government resigned with her. The intrigue over her successor did not last long — sources told RBC-Ukraine that the new prime minister would be Naftogaz head Serhii Koretskyi. But attention quickly turned to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Despite some friction between him and others in the presidential circle, rumors about his possible dismissal stirred political corridors. Eventually, Zelenskyy confirmed he would not reappoint Fedorov as minister. According to the president, Fedorov was to “remain on the team” and be offered a new post. Fedorov, however, refused offers of a new job. As an ex-minister he then staged a high-profile meeting with journalists, and a “cardboard protest” had already gathered in front of the Franko Theater in Kyiv (the closest open location to the Presidential Office, editor’s note). While Fedorov shared his view on the situation, people at Franko Square demanded his return to the post and the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. According to the president, it was precisely the conflict with Syrskyi that led to Fedorov’s dismissal. The ex-minister confirmed at a briefing that he had proposed replacing the Commander-in-Chief. Syrskyi, in turn, said he knew nothing of any conflict and that “his job is war.” After several days of consultations, Zelenskyy replaced the Commander-in-Chief with Mykhailo Drapatyi. Fedorov, however, was not returned to the defense minister post. Khmara replacing Fedorov Once it became clear that Fedorov would no longer be defense minister, then-interior minister Ihor Klymenko was planned to take the post. He declined and later became secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. While the parliament went on a month-long recess — which also angered the protesters at Franko Square — Zelenskyy chose a new candidate for the Defense Ministry. He was Yevheniy Khmara, who at that time was the acting head of the SBU. Since appointing a minister without the Rada is impossible, Khmara again became an “acting head,” but this time of the Defense Ministry. Amid ongoing “cardboard protests,” Zelenskyy held several meetings with Fedorov and offered him other posts, within government and beyond. Fedorov publicly refused alternatives to the minister’s chair. Khmara one step from appointment 18 in August the Rada returned from recess, and on 19 August a vote to appoint Khmara as defense minister was announced. In the evening, Zelenskyy indeed submitted the corresponding nomination. The decision was not taken easily. According to RBC-Ukraine sources, the presidential circle considered not returning to personnel issues at all for now, leaving Khmara (and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga) as acting ministers. The obvious rationale was to avoid drawing additional public attention to the matter, especially amid the still-ongoing “cardboard protests” and calls to reinstate Fedorov. Ultimately, however, the Office of the President decided to formally close this personnel chapter. Moreover, supporters expect there will be enough votes in the session hall to confirm Khmara’s appointment, RBC-Ukraine interlocutors predict. According to one Servant of the People MP, this is because “there’s no one else to appoint.” “Besides, although he served in a completely different structure, during his time as acting minister he has tried to quickly get up to speed with the ministry’s affairs. Though there are issues he still needs to address,” the source clarified. According to him, Khmara generally receives positive feedback as a specialist and as a person. “One of his main qualities may be integrity. No one from the SBU has ever said a bad word about him,” the source said. The full composition of Khmara’s team is not yet known, but interlocutors in the Rada’s relevant committee believe he will not make radical changes and that some people will remain from Mykhailo Fedorov’s previous team. Other informed RBC-Ukraine sources previously confirmed this information. It is worth noting that Khmara is a serviceman, while the head of the Defense Ministry, according to legislation, must be a civilian. RBC-Ukraine sources say this issue was planned to be resolved in several ways. The first was to amend the law and allow a serviceman to head the ministry for the duration of martial law. The second, which was ultimately chosen, is that Khmara will be discharged from military service. Updated: As Voice faction MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported, today at a meeting with the faction Khmara confirmed his discharge from military service. The process has already begun, and at the time of the vote he will already be a civilian.

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