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Ukraine Names Yevhenii Khmara Permanent Defense Minister

8/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed defence minister, called for wartime elections to fix a “systemic crisis of governance”.
He accused corruption of creating a crisis that starves the military of resources.
Ukraine confirmed former special-forces operative Yevhenii Khmara will permanently become defence minister.
President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Khmara as the mastermind of Kyiv’s deep strikes into Russia.
Polls indicate most Ukrainians oppose wartime elections despite Fedorov’s call.

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Story summary

Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed defence minister, called for wartime elections to fix a “systemic crisis of governance”.
He accused corruption of creating a crisis that starves the military of resources.
Ukraine confirmed former special-forces operative Yevhenii Khmara will permanently become defence minister.
President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Khmara as the mastermind of Kyiv’s deep strikes into Russia.
Polls indicate most Ukrainians oppose wartime elections despite Fedorov’s call.