Khmara Details Plan to Close $27B Defense Deficit, Appoints New Team

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara outlined a strategy to bridge a $27 billion defense funding gap, proposing to advance portions of a planned European loan and solicit contributions from new international partners, Ukrinform reported. Speaking to journalists, Khmara stated the ministry has identified specific partners for targeted communications to secure additional funding for concrete defense needs.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. He emphasized that Kyiv will present allies with a clear vision detailing the military’s objectives, required projects, and timelines for achieving results. Addressing the internal structure of the Defense Ministry, Khmara stressed the importance of institutional continuity and announced he had offered his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, an open format to continue collaborating on defense projects. Khmara noted he had not offered a specific position and is still awaiting a response following their meeting in July. The minister also announced new appointments to strengthen the ministry’s leadership. Mykola Shvydkyi will oversee frontline operations, while Liubov Halan is tasked with human capital development. Serhii Boiev has returned to manage international partnerships, and Hanna Hvozdiar is slated to lead the defense-industrial complex and export division. Khmara added that candidates are also being finalized for digital transformation and cognitive warfare roles. Other Topics of Interest Missile Strike on Kharkiv Memorial Run Leaves 3 Dead A Russian ballistic missile hit a memorial run in the Kharkiv region, killing three people and prompting an official negligence investigation. Khmara emphasized that the military, government, defense industry, and international partners, must operate as a unified system, adding that he and the commander-in-chief share a common vision and are working as a cohesive team. Addressing domestic defense capabilities, Khmara revealed that Ukraine has developed four potential interceptors designed to counter jet-powered “Shahed” attack drones. He stated that the systems have already passed field tests, and the immediate goal is to refine the technology and scale production to thousands of units. Military background and recent leadership changes Khmara’s team-building efforts follow his formal appointment by the Verkhovna Rada on Aug. 19, following a proposal from President Volodymyr Zelensky. To comply with Ukrainian law requiring a civilian defense minister, Khmara – a major general in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) – was discharged from military service prior to the vote. Khmara replaced Fedorov, whose abrupt dismissal triggered a wave of street protests across Ukraine that have continued in recent weeks. Khmara is the fifth defense minister since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, taking over a ministry that has seen rapid turnover over the past year. Prior to his appointment, Khmara spent most of his career in special operations, eventually commanding the SBU’s Alpha special operations center. Under his leadership, the unit claimed to have destroyed more than $5.5 billion worth of Russian military equipment. He also briefly served as the acting head of the SBU earlier this year.