Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted nominations to parliament to appoint Yevhen Khmara as defence minister and Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
Khmara, who has served as acting defence minister since July after previously leading the SBU security service, would formally replace Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy told lawmakers the change was driven by persistent disputes between Fedorov and armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. The reshuffle proved turbulent: Zelenskyy initially favoured Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko for the defence post but shifted plans amid public protests, ultimately dismissing Syrskyi as well and moving Klymenko to the national security council.
Fedorov, a popular figure, rejected alternative posts offered by Zelenskyy, insisting he would accept nothing less than a return to his former role.