That is according to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

Zelensky thanked the Verkhovna Rada speaker and lawmakers who supported Khmara's appointment as defense minister, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the chief of the General Staff, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the prime minister, government officials and commanders for their coordinated work with Khmara and the Defense Ministry team.

"It is important to have complete mutual understanding, genuine mutual support at all levels between the Defense Ministry and, above all, our army, as well as a shared rapid response to all the changes in this war," Zelensky said.

Zelensky called on Khmara and all those making decisions in the Defense Forces to ensure that their decisions are aligned with what the front line, air defense, long-range operations and mid-range strikes actually need.

According to Zelensky, the first priority is to audit all agreements with partners: what has been implemented and what is still awaiting implementation.

"Air defense and ballistic missile defense are a key priority. Not the only one, but a key one, especially ahead of winter - you all know this well. There was an attack today, and the interception rate for cruise missiles is already at a significant level, while we need to keep increasing the number of drones we intercept," Zelensky said.

He stressed that protecting cities and communities in the Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Chernihiv and other frontline regions from Russia's daily terror remains a separate challenge.

"We need to respond to this challenge. And likewise, we need to address the challenge posed by Russia's guided bombs. We need our own capabilities that can counter such strikes and can be used against Russian aircraft," Zelensky said.

Read also:Ukrainian Defense Ministry comments on Khmara's discharge from military service

Another task, according to Zelensky, is to increase the number of long-range strikes. Khmara has extensive experience in such operations from his time with the SBU.

Real solutions and proposals are also needed on everything related to mobilization, contracts and troop rotations.

"I very much expect systematic joint work between the Armed Forces and the Defense Ministry in this area, as well as a more humane and systematic approach to resolving organizational issues in the military," he added.

According to Zelensky, particular attention should be paid to finding the resources needed for the defense sector. Funding is one of the biggest challenges and, at the same time, a shared task for the entire country.

Khmara, for his part, thanked the president for his trust and said that the effectiveness with which he worked in the Alpha special unit and the SBU more broadly would also be applied at the Defense Ministry. He identified three key priorities: the front line and strengthening the military, people, and the development of the defense industry.

According to him, the servicemember will be at the center of every decision – their life and health, the quality of their training, equipment, weapons, medical care and recovery. The Defense Ministry will step up cooperation with partners, efforts to strengthen air defense, implementation of ballistic and anti-ballistic missile production programs, expansion of drone capabilities, and the scaling up of long-range strikes and mid-range strikes.

"We have a clear task from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to set up the system – our defense, production and procurement system, and the supply of the military. Our task is to scale up what has already proven effective. Remove unnecessary bureaucracy, speed up decision-making and establish more meaningful communication between the ministry and the front line," Khmara said.

On July 14, the Verkhovna Rada approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The entire government 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 approve his 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 decided to dismiss Khmara from his position as deputy defense minister. The same day, the Verkhovna Rada approved the president's nomination of Khmara as defense minister.

Photo: President's Office