Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has overhauled the membership of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, publishing the presidential decree on the official government website.
Five officials were removed from the NSDC: former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky, former Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, and former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Seven officials were added to the council: Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivsky, Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky, Economy and Environment Minister Oleksandr Kravchenko, Justice Minister Denys Maslov, First Deputy Head of the Security Service Oleksandr Poklad, and Acting Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara. First Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha was also confirmed in the council’s membership.
The reshuffle follows a broader cabinet change. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada approved a new cabinet on July 16, with 264 lawmakers voting in favour, 15 against, 19 abstaining, and 20 not voting.
Former Defence Minister Fedorov, in an interview, denied that his dismissal resulted from a conflict with former Commander-in-Chief Syrsky. He said pressure on the ministry had intensified after procurement and tender reforms began, and that negative coverage followed. He added that he had warned Zelensky in advance that the changes would cause discontent. Zelensky, he said, advised him to act as he saw fit.
