Within days, Zelensky has fired his cabinet, ousted his defense minister, and is now replacing his security council chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is rapidly reshuffling his security and defense leadership. Ihor Klymenko, a former interior minister, will head the National Security and Defense Council—currently held by Rustem Umerov, who has been Ukraine's lead negotiator with the United States and Russia. This reshuffle is part of a broader cabinet overhaul: parliament dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's government just days ago, and Zelensky has now named Yevhen Khmara, head of Ukraine's Security Service, to lead the Defense Ministry. Meduza reports that Umerov's next role remains unannounced, though he was questioned in connection with a high-profile corruption investigation during his defense ministry tenure. The moves suggest Zelensky is consolidating control over Ukraine's security apparatus during a critical period.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton