Kiev, August 19 (QNA) - The Ukrainian Parliament today approved the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as the country's new defense minister, one month after a government reshuffle removed his predecessor Mykhailo Fedorov.
The vote came a day after former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov issued a statement calling for steps toward holding elections during wartime.
A total of 312 lawmakers voted in favor of Khmara's appointment, while two voted against it, during a parliamentary session held earlier today.
Addressing parliament ahead of the vote, Khmara pledged to make every effort to defend Ukraine, reduce Russia's war-fighting capabilities as much as possible, and force it to accept a just peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had nominated intelligence official Yevhenii Khmara to head the ministry after dismissing Mykhailo Fedorov last month amid a sharp public dispute between the military and the Defense Ministry.
Zelenskyy welcomed parliament's approval of the appointment in a social media post, saying that Ukraine needed greater strength and would get it.
Khmara, a former senior special forces officer, takes over the sensitive defense portfolio as President Zelenskyy faces renewed political turmoil following weeks of protests over Fedorov's dismissal.
Ukrainian law and legislation governing elections prohibit presidential, parliamentary and local elections while martial law remains in force. Elections are to be held after martial law ends, in accordance with the procedures and timelines prescribed by law. (QNA)