Military service blocks Khmara’s path to full defense minister role in Ukraine
Yevhenii Khmara would have to leave military service before he could be appointed Ukraine’s defense minister on a permanent basis because Ukrainian law reserves the post for a civilian, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Aug. 11.
The Ukrainian military career of Yevhenii Khmara is impeding his chances of becoming the nation's primary defense minister, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The law reserves the top post for a civilian, making it impossible for Khmara, a veteran military officer, to hold the position permanently. Despite Khmara's reluctance to leave the military, a parliamentary source insists he must do so for the role to be filled.
Changing the existing law to allow Khmara to become defense minister would be a drastic move, according to the source. The responsibilities of the defense minister include managing military funding, acquiring weapons, and fostering strong ties with military leaders and international allies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Khmara as acting defense minister on July 17, 2023, after he was serving as head of Ukraine's SBU Security Service.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
