Yevhenii Khmara
Yevhenii Khmara | |
|---|---|
Євгеній Хмара | |
.jpg){kind=spacer} Khmara in 2026 | |
| Acting Minister of Defence | |
| Assumed office 15 July 2026 | |
| President | Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
| Preceded by | Mykhailo Fedorov |
| Acting Head of the Security Service of Ukraine | |
| In office 5 January 2026 – 16 July 2026 | |
| President | Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
| Preceded by | Vasyl Malyuk |
| Succeeded by | Oleksandr Poklad |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch/service | Security Service of Ukraine |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Ukrainian War |
Yevhenii Leonidovych Khmara[1][2] (Ukrainian: Євгеній Леонідович Хмара) is a Ukrainian security service officer and major general appointed acting head of Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on 5 January 2026.[3][4] Previously he led the Center Special Operations "A" (Alpha) of the SBU. He has held other senior command positions within SBU special operations units during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[5] He has served as the acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine since the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov on 15 July 2026.
Career
[edit]In April 2023, Khmara was appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as head of the SBU unit responsible for special operations, counterterrorism activities, and the protection of participants in criminal proceedings and law enforcement officials.[6]
Following legislative reforms restructuring the SBU's special operations forces, Khmara was reappointed on 25 August 2025 as head of the reorganized and renamed Center for Special Operations "A" or Alpha Group.[7] The unit conducts counterterrorism and other special missions as part of Ukraine's national security framework.[8]
On 5 January 2026, President Zelenskyy appointed Khmara as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), entrusting him with leadership of the agency during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[4] He succeeded Vasyl Malyuk.
On 16 July 2026, Zelenskyy appointed Khmara as the acting Ukrainian Minister of Defence. It was a move that came after the controversial dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov during a government reshuffle.[9]
Operations
[edit]Khmara led the counteroffensive campaign in May and June of 2022 to recapture Snake Island.[10]
In June 2025, during his time as head of Alpha Group of SBU, the unit carried out Operation Spiderweb.[11]
Rank
[edit]On 23 June 2024, President Zelenskyy awarded Khmara the military rank of Major General. The promotion was reported by Ukrainian media as part of a broader decree conferring senior ranks within Ukraine's security and defense sector.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Про тимчасове покладення виконання обов'язків Міністра оборони України на Хмару Є.Л." Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Kitsoft. "Кабінет Міністрів України - Хмара Євгеній Леонідович". www.kmu.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Yuliia Dysa; Max Hunder (5 January 2026). "Ukraine replaces spy boss who oversaw 'Spiderweb' airbases attack". Reuters. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy named Major-General Yevhenii Khmara as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) following the replacement of Vasyl Maliuk.
- 1 2 Romanenko, Valentyna (5 January 2026). "Зеленський призначив нового в.о. голови СБУ" [Zelenskyy appointed a new acting head of Security Service of Ukraine]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian).
- ↑ Horlach, Polina (5 January 2026). "Піаніст чи генерал-майор: українці мемами розбиралися, який Євген Хмара очолив СБУ" [Pianist or Major General: Ukrainians Used Memes to Figure Out Which Yevhen Khmara Headed the SBU]. Суспільне Культура (Suspilne) (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ Romanenko, Valentyna (14 April 2023). "Zelensky appoints new head of SBU special operations unit". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ Herasimova, Tetiana (25 August 2025). "Zelenskyy reappoints Khmara as head of SSU Special Operations Center "A"". Ukrainian News Agency. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ "Центр спеціальних операцій «А» СБУ". Ukraїner (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ↑ Wax, Eddy (16 July 2026). "Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints new acting defense minister". Politico Europe. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
- ↑ Wax, Eddy (16 July 2026). "Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints new acting defense minister". Politico Europe. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
- ↑ Shvets, Yuliya (16 July 2026). "Who Is Yevhen Khmara? Ukraine's Defense Minister Pick Is A Decorated Officer With A Reputation For Results". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
- ↑ "President awards rank of major general to head of SBU Special Operations Center "A"". Ukrainian National News. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.