Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Yurii Pohribnyi as commander of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a political crisis deepens over recent top-level security reshuffles in Kyiv.
The appointment, published by decree on the official website of the Office of the President on September 17, follows the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the replacement of Oleksandr Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Military Leadership Reshuffle
President Zelenskyy stated after a meeting with Commander-in-Chief Drapatyi that he decided to prepare further personnel decisions proposed by the new military chief. Zelenskyy later published photographs of a meeting with Drapatyi and acting Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara, referring to Khmara as Defence Minister in his online post.
Despite being publicly referred to as Defence Minister by the president, Khmara has not been formally appointed to the cabinet post and remains in an acting role. Ukrainian legislation requires the defence minister to be a civilian, but Major General Khmara currently serves in active military service.
Members of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, are scheduled to return to work following a legislative pause to address outstanding cabinet appointments. Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote that officials are simply waiting for a resolution to Khmara's military status before proceeding with a vote.
Public Demonstrations and Criticism
Demonstrators gathered in Kyiv to demand the reinstatement of former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Protesters handed over a petition addressed to Zelenskyy, reminding the president that the public is still waiting for Fedorov to return to his former cabinet post.
Political commentator Volodymyr Fesenko stated that Zelenskyy will not reinstate Fedorov to the Ministry of Defence despite the ongoing demonstrations in the capital.
Yulia Zabelina, a political analyst for Radio NV, said during a broadcast of the Svoboda Live program that the delay in Khmara's official appointment appeared to be a tactical move to manage public dissatisfaction. Zabelina noted that by neither reinstating Fedorov nor formally confirming Khmara, leadership was attempting to dodge responsibility and manipulate public sentiment surrounding the political crisis.
Background and Institutional Structure
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine oversees national military policy, equipment procurement, and administrative management of the armed forces, working alongside the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Under Ukrainian law, the position of Defence Minister must be held by a civilian to ensure civilian oversight of the military, a standard requirement for NATO alignment.
The Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine manage supply chains, equipment distribution, and technical support across all military operational zones. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament located in Kyiv, holds the constitutional authority to confirm ministerial nominations submitted by the president.
