Ukraine War Latest: Zelensky Formally Nominates Khmara as Defense Minister, Rules Out Fedorov's Comeback
President Zelenskyy submits nominations for defense and foreign ministers to parliament, amid ongoing protests demanding the reinstatement of the previously dismissed official.
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted nominations to the Verkhovna Rada for Yevhenii Khmara as Defence Minister and Andriy Sybiha as Foreign Minister, with lawmakers expected to vote on Wednesday, August 19.
- Both Khmara and Sybiha currently serve as acting heads of their respective ministries; Khmara assumed the role on July 20 following Mykhailo Fedorov's dismissal, after Fedorov stepped down on July 15.
- Fedorov's dismissal sparked protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators gathering outside the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday; protesters in Dnipro, Rivne, and Zaporizhzhia demanded his reinstatement, alleging the removal was unjustified.
- Lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported the nominations via Telegram, according to Censor; the Rada resumed work this week, though reports indicated parliament would not consider the appointments on Tuesday.
- The nominations follow a broader Cabinet reshuffle beginning in July, which included Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi's dismissal on July 21.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Mychaylo Fedorov was Minister of Defense of Ukraine until Volodimir Selensky released him. Since then street protests do not tear down, and the shell has grown to a powerful rival.
New minister approved despite protests against the firing of his beloved predecessor
In Kiev, more than a hundred demonstrators gathered near the Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, to demand the return of Mykhailo Fedorov to the post of Minister of Defense. Ukrainian and European flags in hand, they call the deputies to hear their request and denounce the decision of Volodymyr Zelensky. Correspondence of Emmanuelle Chaze from Kiev to France 24.
On August 19, the Cabinet of Ministers published an order dismissing Yevheniy Khmara from the post of Deputy Minister of Defense. This was reported on the website of the Government Portal. The document states that Khmara made the relevant decision of his own free will. At the same time, on August 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a proposal to appoint Khmara as Minister of Defense, and Sybigy as Minister of Foreign…
The president tries to put up with the protests about the expulsion of the former minister, who attacks: "Enough with democracy hostage"
The Ukrainian president introduced the new minister of defense and took advantage of the announcement to categorically remove the return of Mykhailo Fedorov to the government, despite the protests.
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