Yevhen Khmara and Andriy Sybiga Will Temporarily Head the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Government Decision
17 July 18:04
On Friday, July 17, with the president’s approval, the government appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting Minister of Defense and Andriy Sibiga as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“It is important to maintain continuity in the areas of defense and foreign policy. We are also reorganizing the structure of the ministries in accordance with parliamentary decisions. We are reinstating the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and are establishing a separate Ministry of Communities, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons. We have separated the areas of economy and environment and reconstruction, as well as infrastructure and transport,” Koretsky added.
Yevhen Khmara: What Is Known About Him
Yevhen Khmara is a career military officer and special operations soldier. Since 2011, he has served in the Security Service of Ukraine’s Special Operations Center “A” (known as “Alpha”), and in 2023, he took command of this elite unit.
At the start of the full-scale invasion, Khmara took direct part in the battles to liberate the Kyiv region. After the de-occupation of the northern regions, he continued to fight against Russian troops in the Donetsk sector.
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Under the leadership of Yevhen Khmara, the fighters of Special Operations Unit “A” carried out a series of notable operations:
- The liberation of Zmiinyi Island —Khmara personally led the special operation to liberate this strategically important island in the Black Sea.
- Operation “Spiderweb” —drone operators from Unit “A” played a key role in this legendary operation.
- Strikes deep behind Russian lines —special forces systematically destroy targets on Russian territory, including airfields, ammunition depots, oil refineries, and facilities producing guided munitions and drones.
Overall, Special Operations Center “A” consistently ranks among the top three most effective units of the Defense Forces. Using drones, the fighters have destroyed over $5.5 billion worth of Russian military equipment.
As of early 2026, the unit had destroyed over 1,800 tanks, as well as thousands of armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, and electronic warfare systems belonging to the enemy.
For his courage and defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, Yevhen Khmara was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, First through Third Classes, as well as the Order “For Courage” (3rd Class) and the “Cross of Combat Merit” decoration.
On January 5, 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting head of the SBU following the resignation of Vasyl Malyuk.
Andriy Sybiga: Key Facts
Andriy Sibiga was born on January 1, 1975, in the city of Zboriv, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine.
He graduated from the Ivan Franko State University of Lviv with degrees in “Law” and “International Relations.”
He is fluent in English and Polish.
He began his career in 1997, serving as an attaché, third secretary, and second secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Since 1998, he has served as Second Secretary and First Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland.
Since December 2002, he has served as First Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Since 2003, he has served as acting head of department and head of department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Since 2006 – Deputy Director of the Department – Head of Division, Deputy Director of the Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Since 2008 – Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Poland.
Since 2012 – Acting Director and Director of the Consular Service Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Since 2016 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey. On May 19, 2021, he was dismissed from his post by decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
By decree of the President of Ukraine on May 31, 2021, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
2021–2024: Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Since 2024, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
On September 5, 2024, Andriy Sibiga was appointed the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
In 2025, he retained his position in the new government led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and was reappointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Prior to this, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had submitted Sibiga’s candidacy to parliament.
On July 14, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to dismiss the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine headed by Yulia Svyrydenko.
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