According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 312 lawmakers voted in favor of Khmara's appointment.

Photo: Yaroslav Zhelezniak / Telegram

Khmara replaces Mykhailo Fedorov, who headed the Defense Ministry for six months, from January 14 to July 16, 2026.

Khmara is a Major General of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and a career special operations officer. He served for more than 15 years in the SBU's Special Operations Center A (Alpha).

During the full-scale war, he took part in combat operations, including the liberation of the Kyiv region, fighting in the Donetsk region and the operation to liberate Snake Island.

In April 2023, the president appointed Khmara head of the SBU's Special Operations Center for Counterterrorism, Protection of Participants in Criminal Proceedings and Law Enforcement Officers. Following a reorganization, the unit was renamed the SBU Special Operations Center A.

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In August 2023, Khmara was promoted to brigadier general, and in June 2024 to major general.

In August 2025, he took charge of the reorganized SBU Special Operations Center A.

"The Special Operations Center A consistently ranks among the top three most effective units of Ukrainian forces in terms of enemy equipment and personnel destroyed using drones," the SBU said. The agency also reported that drone operators from the center directly participated in Operation Spiderweb.

From January 5 to July 17, 2026, Khmara served as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, replacing Vasyl Maliuk.

In July 2026, he moved to the Ministry of Defense and was appointed acting defense minister.

His decorations include the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, First, Second and Third Class, as well as the President's "Cross of Military Merit."

OnJuly 14, the Verkhovna Rada approved Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation. The entire Cabinet automatically resigned along with her.

Zelensky instructed Khmara to serve as acting defense minister and said that after the necessary legal procedures were completed, he would ask the Verkhovna Rada to support his appointment.

With Zelensky's approval, the government appointed Khmara and Andrii Sybiha as acting defense and foreign ministers, respectively.

On August 18, Zelensky submitted nominations to the Verkhovna Rada for Sybiha to be appointed foreign minister and Khmara to be appointed defense minister.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine