Ukraine appoints acting foreign and defence ministers

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting minister of defence and Andrii Sybiha as acting minister of foreign affairs.

According to Ukrainian media, citing Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, the appointments were approved by the government.

Koretskyi said Khmara had been nominated for the post of defence minister by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Khmara has headed Ukraine’s Security and Defence Service since the beginning of this year.

“In agreement with the President, the government has appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting minister of defence and Andrii Sybiha as acting minister of foreign affairs. It is important to ensure continuity in defence and foreign policy,” the prime minister wrote.

Koretskyi also announced a reorganisation of the government’s ministerial structure in line with decisions adopted by the Verkhovna Rada. 

In particular, the government is restoring the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and establishing a separate Ministry for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.