Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Maj. Gen. Ievhen Khmara, acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, as interim defense minister after Mykhailo Fedorov's removal triggered rare wartime protests and the resignation of deputy air force commander Col. Pavlo Yelizarov, Interfax-Ukraine reported on July 16. Following his dismissal, Fedorov publicly accused Commander-in-Chief Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi of blocking ministry reforms and dividing the country.

Fedorov had served as defense minister since January and was credited with accelerating drone production, improving procurement and reducing bureaucracy. Zelensky admitted Fedorov and Syrskyi could no longer work together and was forced to resolve the dispute in favor of the military command.