Ukraine appoints Yevhen Khmara defense minister, reappoints Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister
Ukraine’s parliament appointed Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officer Yevhen Khmara as the country’s new defense minister on August 19, while reappointing career diplomat Andrii Sybiha as foreign minister.
A total of 312 lawmakers voted in favor of Khmara’s appointment, according to a parliamentary broadcast.
Sybiha’s reappointment was backed by 266 lawmakers earlier the same day. He has served as Ukraine’s foreign minister since September 2024.
The two posts had remained unfilled following Ukraine’s latest government reshuffle. Under the Constitution, candidates for defense and foreign ministers are nominated by the president.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted Khmara and Sybiha’s nominations to parliament on the evening of August 18, after lawmakers returned from their summer recess.
Before the votes, lawmakers held more than five hours of discussions with the two nominees.