Ukrainian parliament appoints Yevhen Khmara as defense minister

On August 19, 2026, the Ukrainian parliament officially confirmed Yevhen Khmara as the country's new Minister of Defense. The appointment, proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, received 312 votes in favor, significantly exceeding the 226 required for approval.

Khmara, a former high-ranking official of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), had been serving as the acting defense minister since July, following the removal of his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov. Alongside the defense appointment, the president proposed Andrii Sybiha for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had also been performing duties in an acting capacity following the government reshuffle earlier that summer.

Separately, official reports noted that Ukraine secured the release of 103 prisoners of war from Russia, including military personnel and border guards, as the government continues to manage ministerial transitions amidst the ongoing conflict. These administrative moves mark a consolidation of Zelensky's cabinet, as the parliament reconvened from its summer recess to finalize these key leadership roles.