Klymenko may replace Fedorov as Ukraine’s defense minister

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been named the leading candidate for the post of defense minister, replacing Mykhailo Fedorov.

This was reported by Verkhovna Rada deputy Olha Vasylevska-Smahliuk on her Telegram channel.

“On personnel reshuffles in the security bloc, the news is as follows: Ihor Klymenko is the leading candidate for the post of defense minister, replacing Mykhailo Fedorov. The votes for these appointments are there; Ivan Vyhovsky, the current head of the National Police, is being considered as Klymenko’s successor as interior minister; Ivan Fedorov is planned to be appointed deputy prime minister; as for the appointment of Oleksandr Poklad as head of the SBU, there are not yet enough votes to confirm him,” she wrote.

Mykhailo Fedorov is an active proponent of the widespread use of digital technologies and drones for military purposes. At the same time, during his tenure as defense minister he failed to carry out the promised mobilization reform. According to Ukrainian media reports, Fedorov also came into conflict with the military’s top brass over excessive focus on new technologies at the expense of other aspects of the armed forces’ activities.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky announced his intention to dismiss Yulia Svyrydenko’s government. A vote on the matter in the Rada is scheduled for July 14. The appointment of new ministers is planned for Thursday, July 16.