Klymenko may replace Fedorova as defense minister, according to LB.ua sources
12 July 21:08
Following the resignation of the current government and the formation of a new one, the current Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, may become the new Minister of Defense. Two sources close to the Office of the President, as well as a source within Ihor Klymenko’s inner circle, told LB.ua about this, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
A source close to the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, speaking to LB.ua, suggested that such a replacement might reflect President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s desire to improve the situation regarding mobilization. At the same time, media sources close to the Office of the President suggest that the change in leadership at the Ministry of Defense may be due to the head of state’s dissatisfaction with Mykhailo Fedorov’s actions.
Ihor Klymenko: What Is Known About Him
Ihor Klymenko was born on October 25, 1972, in Kyiv. From 1989 to 1994, he studied at the Kharkiv Military University. In 2014, he completed his master’s degree at Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs, majoring in “Jurisprudence.” In June 2019, he earned a Ph.D. in Psychology.
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From 1994 to 1997, he served as the commander of a missile brigade unit (military unit A1667).
From 1998 to 2004, he served in law enforcement agencies as a psychologist, head of the department at the Center for Practical Psychology of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Kharkiv region, and head of the Center for Practical Psychology of the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
From 2011, he served as deputy head and then head of the Personnel Inspection Directorate of the Main Directorate for Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
From December 2011 to March 2014, he served as head of the Department of Professional Training and Education at the Main Directorate for Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
In October 2013, he received a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in “Legal Psychology.”
Since 2014, he has served as Deputy Head of the Department of Personnel.
From 2015 to 2017, he headed the Department of Personnel Support of the National Police of Ukraine.
From October 2017, he served as Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine—Head of the Department of Human Resources, and in March 2018, he became Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine.
Since September 25, 2019, he has been the Head of the National Police of Ukraine.
On January 18, 2023, the government appointed Ihor Klymenko as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and tasked him with performing the duties of Minister of Internal Affairs following the death of the ministry’s leadership in a plane crash in Brovary.
On February 7, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Ihor Klymenko as Minister of Internal Affairs.
On July 16, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Upon the president’s recommendation, the new government team was headed by Yulia Svyrydenko, whom parliament confirmed as prime minister on July 17. At the same time, the updated composition of the Cabinet of Ministers was approved, with Igor Klymenko retaining his position as Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
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