Defense Minister

Estonia's defense minister steps down following defense procurement audit

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has resigned following public criticism over an audit into defense procurement contracts for ammunition bound for Ukraine, Estonian broadcaster ERR reported on September 2.

3 September, 08:31 AM

Fedorov now advises Italy’s defense minister

Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov has become an adviser to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on innovation matters, Fedorov announced on Aug. 28.

28 August, 07:56 PM

Fedorov: Ukraine’s chance for victory slipping away

Ukraine is slowly losing the war and has only a few months to make drastic changes that could turn the tide, former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview with Reuters on Aug. 25.

25 August, 09:36 PM

Former DM Reznikov suggests expanding draft to include women

Ukraine should make military service mandatory for all citizens, including women, former Defense Minister (2021–2023) Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview with RFE/RL on Aug. 20.

21 August, 01:17 AM

New Defense Minister Khmara outlines three key priorities

Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara, speaking to the Verkhovna Rada ahead of the vote on his appointment on Aug. 19, outlined three priorities for his tenure: seizing the strategic initiative across all domains of the war, timely weapons delivery to the front with transparent procurement procedures, and human capital.

19 August, 04:52 PM

Demonstrators gather at parliament demanding Fedorov's return as defense minister

Protesters gathered outside the Verkhovna Rada building in Kyiv on Wednesday, Aug. 19, demonstrating against Yevhenii Khmara as Minister of Defense and Andrii Sybiha as Minister of Foreign Affairs, NV photojournalist reported from the scene.

19 August, 02:32 PM

Rada defense committee backs Yevhenii Khmara for defense minister post

Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence voted unanimously on Aug. 19, to approve the nomination of Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Holos party MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak wrote on Telegram.

19 August, 01:18 PM

Polish defense minister vows to keep supporting Ukraine

Polish National Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz slammed the opposition's response to a Russian missile's incursion into Polish airspace, accusing political opponents of making Ukraine "enemy number one" instead of Russia. He stressed that despite criticism and disinformation, Warsaw will continue supporting Ukraine.

31 July, 07:15 PM

Polish defense minister slams critics of transferring Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Military assistance to Ukraine is a matter of national interest, and the decision to transfer Patriot missiles to Kyiv is the right one, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated, TVN24 reported on July 10.

10 July, 01:15 PM

Bulgaria to no longer send weapons to Ukraine, defense minister says

Bulgaria will no longer supply weapons to Ukraine, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said at a news conference on June 9, arguing that Russia’s war against Ukraine will not be resolved on the battlefield, according to the Sofia Globe.

9 June, 07:25 PM

France to provide backup radar for Ukraine's air defense

France will temporarily supply Ukraine with an additional radar for the SAMP/T air-defense system while one of the existing radars is being repaired, French DM Catherine Vautrin said at a briefing in Kyiv, Ukrinform wrote on 8.

9 February, 11:00 AM

Finland: Russia gearing up for ‘second phase’ of aggression

Russia is building up its military capabilities near the European Union’s borders and preparing for a potential “second phase” of aggression, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said at the NATO North Atlantic Council at Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels on Oct. 15.

16 October 2025, 09:17 AM

Warsaw: Russia bears responsibility for house destruction near Lublin

Moscow bears ultimate responsibility for the destruction of a house near Lublin on Sep. 10, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said during his Sep. 18 visit to Kyiv, according to a PAP report.

19 September 2025, 11:23 AM

UK Defense Secretary John Healey arrives in Ukraine

UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey arrived in Ukraine for an official visit, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Sept. 3.

3 September 2025, 11:15 AM

Ukraine and Lithuania to co-produce long-range drones

Ukraine and Lithuania will jointly manufacture defense products to strengthen both countries’ security, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram on Aug. 25.

25 August 2025, 12:51 PM

Poland urges Zelenskyy’s participation in Trump–Putin talks

Inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin meeting will be the optimal solution, Poland's Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said, PAP outlet wrote on Aug. 10.

11 August 2025, 12:10 PM

Umerov named Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Rustem Umerov as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), according to decree No. 496/2025, posted on the president's website on July 18.

18 July 2025, 11:32 AM

Norway to provide Ukraine with $7 billion in aid by end of 2025

Norway will deliver $7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine by the end of 2025, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said

6 June 2025, 02:12 AM

Clean hands, dirty war - Shoigu’s real victory

While Russia continues to rain shells, drones, and missiles on Ukrainian cities and send hundreds of thousands of its troops into a brutal war, the former Defense Minister and current Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu is celebrating what he considers his greatest military “achievements”: showers and underwear change.

23 May 2025, 02:10 PM

Belgian delegation visits Kyiv with message of enduring support

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, and Defense Minister Theo Francken arrived in Kyiv, De Standaard news agency wrote on April 8.

8 April 2025, 12:32 PM

Defense Minister

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