"Ukraine needs more strength. We will get it," Chmara wrote on social media after the approval.
Chmara, a former head of the SBU security service, replaces the popular Mykhailo Fedorov, who was fired in July. The dismissal has led to protests and demonstrations. Shortly after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated Chmara for the post of defense minister, Fedorov published a speech on YouTube in which he called on the government to call elections.
Zelenskyy's mandate expired in the spring of 2024 after five years in office, but according to Ukraine's constitution, elections cannot be held when martial law is in effect.
