Zelenskyy Nominates New Defense Minister, Putting Controversy Over 'Drone Warfare Hero' Dismissal to Rest

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Acting Defense Minister Yevhen Hmara as the new defense minister and requested parliamentary approval, Reuters reported on the 18th local time.

Hmara, a former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official, has been serving as the acting minister since the abrupt dismissal of then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on the 16th of last month.

While the SBU's primary missions in the past were counter-terrorism and intelligence activities, it has recently been leading long-range drone strikes targeting energy facilities behind Russian lines.

Former Minister Fedorov, 35, is widely regarded as a key contributor to Ukraine's pressure on Russia using long-range drones.

As reports emerged that former Minister Fedorov was dismissed following conflicts with the military establishment during the military reform process, protests against his dismissal broke out successively.

Ultimately, President Zelenskyy reshuffled the military leadership, including the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, who had been at odds with former Minister Fedorov.

(Photo: Getty Images)
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