Today, the Verkhovna Rada approved the appointment of Yevhen Hmara as Ukraine’s new Defense Minister.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that it is crucial for Ukrainian forces to receive all necessary resources to counter Russian military attacks, maintain frontline positions, and carry out effective defensive and offensive operations.
Zelensky remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin has transformed the war in Ukraine and the killing of people into a new Russian ideology that must be uprooted. “We need to eradicate the roots of this ideology of war,” he added.
He praised Hmara’s previous service in the Alpha special forces unit, stating, “Yevhen Hmara has proven that he does not make empty promises and knows well that occupiers cannot be defeated with mere words. I expect the Ministry of Defense to expand the scope of our deep strikes, and together with Ukrainian arms manufacturers, enhance our capabilities to protect Ukrainian airspace and bolster our defensive and offensive operations in collaboration with our partners,” Zelensky said.
Additionally, he noted a positive working relationship between Hmara and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapaty.
“Before winter, we must be confident in our defense and in our positions in Ukraine, as much as possible,” the President asserted.
Context
- On July 16, amid a scandal surrounding the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov, President Zelensky tasked Hmara with temporarily leading the Ministry of Defense.
- During the August 19 session, Hmara indicated that he attended the Rada as a civilian after being discharged from military service. A total of 312 parliament members voted in favor of his appointment. Before the vote, he discussed priorities for the Ministry, including strengthening the military, enhancing the defense industry, and focusing on personnel management.
- On July 22, Zelensky stated that Drapaty, Hmara, and military commanders are to prepare an updated defense strategy for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff to address mobilization and issues surrounding equipment modernization.
