Zelenskyy appoints new defense minister, refuses to reinstate Fedorov

Published Jul 28, 05:54 PM UTC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided not to reinstate dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, according to media reports citing a source from Fedorov's inner circle. Instead, Yevhen Khmara, former head of the SBU domestic intelligence service, is set to take over the defense portfolio permanently, having already served as interim minister. The decision comes after weeks of protests demanding Fedorov's return, which began on July 16 following his dismissal as part of a broader government reshuffle. Zelenskyy previously conceded to protesters by dismissing Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, but refuses to bring back Fedorov. New protests are planned for Friday in Kyiv, with organizers shifting tactics from static gatherings to marches. A recent poll shows Fedorov's presidential support rose from 2-3% to 13.4% after the reshuffle, though sources say he has no immediate political ambitions.

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