Ukrainian parliament committee unanimously supports Fedorov’s appointment as defense minister
Photo: Mykhailo Fedorov (facebook.com/mykhailofedorov.com.ua)
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence has backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to appoint Mykhailo Fedorov as Minister of Defense, according to the member of parliament Oleksii Honcharenko.
As Honcharenko reported, all members of the defense committee supported the draft resolution on Fedorov’s appointment as Defense Minister.
Notably, Fedorov’s candidacy was submitted only about an hour earlier. For him to be appointed head of the Ministry of Defense, at least 226 lawmakers must support the initiative during a parliamentary vote.
New role for Fedorov
Previously, Mykhailo Fedorov served as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
In early January, President Zelenskyy said he had offered Fedorov the post of Defense Minister, replacing Denys Shmyhal.
A source familiar with the matter told RBC-Ukraine that the decision was driven by the need for sweeping reforms at the Ministry of Defense, including changes related to the work of military enlistment offices.
Shmyhal, in turn, is set to take the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Ukraine. He had served as Defense Minister since the last summer.
Earlier today, January 13, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Fedorov from his post as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, and Shmyhal from his post as Minister of Defense.
Lawmakers are expected to reappoint both officials to their new positions by the end of the day.
More details on the cabinet reshuffle in Ukraine are available in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
