Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Resumes Work Amid Unresolved Defense Ministry Leadership

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Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada resumes its work on August 18 after the summer recess. Parliament returns amid an ongoing government reshuffle and interim leadership at the Ministry of Defense.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Resumes Work Amid Unresolved Defense Ministry Leadership
On July 16, lawmakers approved Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and endorsed the new Cabinet. The Defense Ministry is currently headed on an acting basis by Yevhenii Khmara, whom President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assigned to lead the ministry on July 16.

Mykhailo Fedorov, who previously served as defense minister, was removed from the post. According to the source material, Fedorov said he had personally handed Khmara a detailed wartime plan and explained how strategic priorities translate into weapons procurement and development projects.

The personnel changes have also triggered public protests. On August 16, a demonstration was held in Kyiv calling for greater transparency in personnel decisions and Fedorov’s reinstatement. Protesters also called for the continuation of reforms in defense procurement, greater accountability within the command structure and further development of Ukraine’s drone capabilities.

Official Verkhovna Rada records show that Koretskyi was approved as prime minister on July 16 with 289 votes, while the new Cabinet was supported by 264 lawmakers.

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