Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko for the post of secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Zelensky announced on his Telegram channel. He said a decree on the appointment is being prepared.
Zelensky thanked Klymenko for his work in the Interior Ministry system. “There were many difficult challenges, and the response was always effective. Ihor Klymenko will continue to work in Ukraine in the sphere of protecting our state and people,” the president said. He noted that “the main thing is the most effective coordination between all components in the security and defense sector and daily monitoring of the implementation of decisions.”
Klymenko replaces Rustem Umerov, who, among other roles, served as Ukraine’s lead representative in negotiations with the United States and Russia. It has not yet been announced what position Umerov will take after Klymenko’s appointment.
Klymenko had headed the Interior Ministry since February 2023. Earlier, he was tipped for the post of defense minister. On the evening of July 16, Zelensky said he would propose to parliament the candidacy of Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) head Yevhen Khmar as defense minister. The previous defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, resigned due to disagreements with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky. Fedorov’s dismissal sparked protests across Ukraine.
Klymenko’s appointment came after the Verkhovna Rada on July 14 dismissed the government led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, triggering a series of cabinet reshuffles.