Ukrainian lawmakers have approved the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as the country’s new Defence Minister, amid ongoing political debate over the conduct of government affairs during the war with Russia.
Khmara’s appointment followed the resignation of his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, who had called for elections despite the ongoing conflict, arguing that Ukraine’s democratic process should continue.
Wartime elections are currently prohibited under Ukrainian law. A recent poll found that 57 per cent of Ukrainians believe “elections should only be held after the war, citing the number of troops deployed at the front, displaced citizens and millions of refugees abroad.”
Fedorov had called for the development of a legal and practical mechanism to allow Ukraine to resume its democratic process despite the prolonged conflict.
Khmara, a former special forces operative, is taking charge of the Defence Ministry as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile attacks and fighting along the front.
The appointment comes amid concerns over changes in the country’s defence leadership and broader political debates surrounding the war.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have announced an investigation involving a deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office over an alleged $3 million money-laundering scheme.
The investigation follows a separate corruption probe into “an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving Ukraine’s state atomic energy agency.”
The developments come as the Ukrainian government continues to face pressure over military leadership, electoral arrangements and corruption while the war with Russia continues.
Reuters
