President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Yevhenii Khmara as acting minister of defense of Ukraine. The order was published on the official website of the head of state.
Khmara has been tasked with two objectives: to continue reforming the defense sector and ensure concrete results. The wording is laconic — without deadlines, without measurable indicators, and without explanation for why him specifically.
Yevhenii Khmara previously worked in the structure of the Ministry of Defense as deputy minister. This is a classic scheme for temporary appointments: a person from within the department who knows the internal workings and does not require lengthy briefing.
His predecessor in the position was Rustem Umerov, who headed the ministry since September 2023. At the time of publication, there were no official comments regarding the reasons for his departure from either the Office of the President or Umerov himself.
The change occurs at a moment when the Ministry of Defense is under pressure from multiple sides: questions about mobilization rates, scandals involving state weapons procurement, and diplomatic pressure from allies regarding the effectiveness of aid utilization.
Khmara's temporary status raises a question that often remains unanswered: whether he is a genuine candidate for permanent appointment or merely a technical bridge to someone else — and if the latter, when and whom Zelensky is prepared to name publicly.
