President **Volodymyr Zelensky** officially announced the appointment of Major General **Yevhenii Khmara** as Ukraine's acting defense minister on Thursday. The decision comes in the wake of public outcry over the earlier dismissal of Defense Minister **Mykhailo Fedorov**, which led to demonstrations across the country. **Zelensky** stated that he would formally seek parliamentary approval for **Khmara** once all legal procedures are complete. This follows parliamentary approval for most of **Zelensky's** new cabinet, with the defense and foreign minister posts requiring separate presidential nominations under Ukrainian law. **Khmara** brings a significant background in intelligence and counterterrorism to his new role. He has served as the acting head of the **Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)** since January, succeeding **Vasyl Malyuk**. Prior to that, he led the **SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center**, an elite unit responsible for counterterrorism, intelligence support, and long-range strikes against Russian targets. During the initial phase of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, **Khmara** was actively involved in operations to repel Russian forces from the Kyiv region. **Zelensky** emphasized **Khmara's** expertise in technology-driven operations as a key factor in his selection. "**Yevhenii Khmara** has gained extensive — and in many respects unprecedented — experience in conducting technology-driven strike operations. This is exactly what our defense should be focused on in this war," **Zelensky** stated. Following **Khmara's** appointment, his first deputy, **Oleksandr Poklad**, is expected to assume the role of acting head of the **SBU**. The appointment has not been without controversy. Several Ukrainian lawmakers have raised questions regarding its legality, citing Ukrainian legislation that mandates the defense minister and deputy defense ministers to be civilians, not serving military officers.