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Ukraine parliament confirms Yevhenii Khmara as defence minister amid political turmoil
Confirmed
Therefore, we must find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full-fledged democratic process even in the conditions of a protracted war," Fedorov said. PHOTO: EPA Published Aug 19, 2026, 03:21 PM Updated Aug 20, 2026, 04:58 PM AI generated KYIV – Ukrainian lawmakers appointed a new defence minister on Aug 19, hours after his ousted predecessor dealt a major blow to President Volodymyr Zelensky with a call for elections in wartime. Dressed in black in an echo of Zelenskyy's trademark sartorial style, Fedorov said "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," a reference to the fact that presidential elections have been postponed due to the full-scale invasion launched by Moscow in 2022. He has reported for RFE/RL from the Balkans, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and elsewhere since joining the company in 2014. In his statement late on Aug 18, Fedorov said the country faced a crisis of governance and that Ukraine’s democratic process “cannot be held hostage by Russia”.
Share Share Ukraine's anti-corruption agency has announced new investigations focusing on lawmakers and people from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, a day after popular former Defense Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov issued a video calling for him to hold new elections. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) released a trailer-style video on August 19 of what they call Operation Forrest Gump. "NABU and SAP are conducting a special operation to expose a criminal organization that operated under the leadership of current and former members of the Ukrainian parliament and included high-ranking officials from the Office of the Pre
What's confirmed
- Therefore, we must find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full-fledged democratic process even in the conditions of a protracted war," Fedorov said.
What's still developing
- Further court action and how much of the order can take effect remain open.