Shmyhal headed the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

On July 17, the parliament supported the appointment of Denys Shmyhal as the Minister of Defence. The decision was supported by 267 members of parliament.

According to the rules, the Verkhovna Rada appoints the head of the Ministry of Defence based on the president’s submission.

In the evening of July 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had sent all necessary documents to the parliament.

This submission was made amid a government reshuffle and following Denys Shmyhal’s resignation from the position of Prime Minister.

Zelenskyy had previously stated that he wanted Shmyhal to become the Minister of Defense because he has substantial experience that would be beneficial in the defense sector.

One of the priority tasks for the new head of the defense department, according to the president, is increasing the share of domestic weapons production. Currently, he said, approximately 40% of the weapons used at the front are of Ukrainian production, and this figure needs to increase to 50% within the first half-year of the new government’s work.

In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the updated Ministry of Defence would oversee strategic industrial sectors, and the head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, would return to the position of head of "Ukroboronprom".