Zelenskiy Names Security Official as Acting Defence Minister After Reshuffle Sparks Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday sought to defuse a political crisis triggered by the dismissal of reform-minded Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by appointing senior security official Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister.

The reshuffle prompted rare public protests after Fedorov was removed during Zelenskiy’s second cabinet overhaul in a year. His departure also exposed tensions between the former minister and Ukraine’s military leadership.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Kyiv and other cities calling for Fedorov’s reinstatement. Protesters praised his efforts to modernise Ukraine’s armed forces and improve military efficiency during the war with Russia. The resignation of a senior commander overseeing Ukraine’s air campaign added to the political fallout.

Announcing the appointment on X, Zelenskiy said Khmara, the acting head of Ukraine’s SBU security service, had gained extensive experience in technological warfare and long-range military operations.

“This is exactly where our defence efforts should be focused during this war,” Zelenskiy wrote.

Ukraine’s long-range drone and missile strikes on Russian oil facilities and defence infrastructure have become a key element of its military strategy in recent months. Khmara previously led the SBU’s Alpha unit, which has played a central role in many of those operations.

It remains unclear when parliament will vote on confirming Khmara as defence minister. Lawmakers earlier approved a new government led by Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi, with the next parliamentary session scheduled for August 18.

Fedorov criticises military leadership

Speaking to reporters, Fedorov said he had rejected an offer from Zelenskiy to serve as a presidential adviser after being excluded from the new cabinet.

The 35-year-old sharply criticised Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, accusing him of obstructing defence ministry reforms and failing to address key military challenges.

Rather than focusing on defeating Russia, Fedorov said, Syrskyi had contributed to divisions within the country.

Syrskyi, who has led Ukraine’s armed forces since early 2024, has faced criticism from some military personnel over his command style and battlefield tactics.

Responding in a statement, Syrskyi urged national unity and stressed the importance of concentrating on the war effort. He also pointed to his role in defending Kyiv during the opening weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Earlier in the day, Zelenskiy said he was still weighing candidates for the defence ministry, noting that outgoing Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko had also been under consideration.

Drone warfare commander resigns

The political dispute comes as Ukraine continues to intensify long-range strikes against Russian military and energy targets, even as its forces face continued pressure from Russian advances in the east and shortages of troops and air defence systems.

Pavlo Yelizarov, a deputy commander of Ukraine’s air force and a senior figure in the country’s drone warfare programme, announced his resignation following Fedorov’s dismissal.

Russian officials said the Kremlin was closely monitoring developments in Kyiv.

Protests erupt in Kyiv

More than 1,000 people gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv, chanting slogans and carrying signs questioning the decision to remove Fedorov. Some demonstrators argued that military leadership, rather than the defence minister, should have been changed.

The protests echoed demonstrations held last year, when public pressure prompted Zelenskiy to reverse a decision affecting the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.

Fedorov, who previously served as digital transformation minister, has been widely credited with promoting technological innovation in Ukraine’s military, streamlining bureaucracy and expanding the use of drones on the battlefield.

Supporters say his efforts to reform defence procurement faced resistance within the establishment, while critics argued that progress on military recruitment reforms had been too slow.

Zelenskiy announced the latest government reshuffle on Sunday, saying both the cabinet and law enforcement agencies required renewal.

Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi said the new government’s priorities include expanding drone production, strengthening Ukraine’s defence industry and preparing the country for another winter of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.