At the presentation of the new Minister, Yevhen Khmara, Zelenskyy stressed the need to audit all agreements with international partners. He said it must be checked what has already been implemented and what is still pending. He named air defense and the defense against ballistic missiles as a key priority, especially ahead of winter.
Khmara, who previously served as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has, according to Zelenskyy, extensive experience with drone operations. The president expects such operations to be expanded and that Khmara will personally oversee them. Zelenskyy also demanded concrete solutions on mobilization, contracts, and rotations in the army.
Zelenskyy described the financing of the defense sector as one of the biggest challenges. “The war has become more expensive. More resources are needed,” he said. Khmara said he understands the task of accelerating Ukrainian production of ballistic and anti-ballistic systems. “The army needs weapons. The supply system must work at the pace of war,” the new minister said.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed Khmara as Minister on August 19 with 312 votes. Activists who have been demonstrating since July 16 for the return of Mykhailo Fedorov reacted negatively to the decision.
Source: www.pravda.com.ua
