At the same time, speculation on social media that he was discharged allegedly because of a decision by a military medical commission is untrue, the Defense Ministry told Ukrinform.

"Yevhenii Khmara serves as Ukraine's defense minister as a civilian. The Law of Ukraine 'On National Security of Ukraine' requires that this position be held exclusively by a civilian," the ministry said.

The ministry stressed that Khmara was discharged from military service under subparagraph "e" of paragraph 3 of Part 5 of Article 26 of the Law of Ukraine "On Military Duty and Military Service."

"This provision specifically applies to generals and admirals: if they do not hold an established position and are placed at the disposal of the relevant authority, the law allows such a general to be discharged from military service," the ministry said.

The ministry added that Khmara "underwent an examination by a military medical commission according to the stringent medical standards applicable to an SBU special operations unit and was found fully fit for military service. Therefore, speculation that he was discharged because of the MMC is false."

The day before, while serving as a candidate for the position of defense minister, Khmara told the Verkhovna Rada that he was currently a civilian because he had been discharged from military service in accordance with the law.

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

President Volodymyr 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 approve Khmara's candidacy for the position.

With Zelensky's approval, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Khmara as acting defense minister. Before that, he had served for more than 15 years in the SBU's Special Operations Center A (Alpha).

On August 18, Zelensky submitted Khmara's nomination to the Verkhovna Rada for appointment as defense minister.

On August 19, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Khmara from his position as deputy defense minister. The same day, the Verkhovna Rada approved the president's nomination of Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine's defense minister.

Under Ukrainian law, only a civilian may be appointed minister of defense. This ensures democratic control over the Armed Forces, transparent governance, and a clear separation between military command and political leadership.

Photo: Ukrainian Defense Ministry