Zelenskyy nominates Khmara as defense minister; Russian missiles kill 10 in Kharkiv region
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominates Yevhen Khmara as defense minister, lawmakers said. The nomination follows the July 15 dismissal of Mykhaylo Fedorov, which sparked street protests. Russian missiles killed 10 people in Kharkiv region, and a drone struck a bus stop at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, killing one worker.
Key Facts
- Russian missiles killed 10 people and injured eight in Pechenihiy, Kharkiv region, regional military administration head Oleh Synyehubov said.
- The IAEA said a drone hit a bus stop used by Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant staff, killing one person and injuring 15, three seriously; no nuclear safety or security damage was reported.
- Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhaylo Fedorov as defense minister on July 15, sparking street protests, and submitted Yevhen Khmara's nomination to the Verkhovna Rada on July 18.
- A vote is expected on Khmara's nomination and the renomination of Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who has held the post since September 2024.
- A Russian drone hit a combine harvester in Zaporizhzhya region on August 18, killing one farm worker and injuring another, Ukrainian officials said.
Defense Ministry Nomination
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted Yevhen Khmara's nomination for defense minister to the Verkhovna Rada, lawmakers said on July 18. Khmara is a major general who has served as acting chief of the Security Service of Ukraine since January. The nomination follows Zelenskyy's July 15 dismissal of Mykhaylo Fedorov, a popular figure whose removal sparked street protests. Fedorov's firing came amid a dispute with General Oleksandr Syrskiy, who was dismissed days later after more than two years as top military commander. A vote is also expected on the renomination of Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who has held the post since September 2024.
Civilian Casualties in Kharkiv
Russian missiles fired overnight damaged homes, a cafe, a post office, a shop and cars in Pechenihiy in eastern Kharkiv region. The strikes killed 10 people and injured eight others, regional military administration head Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. A Russian drone hit a combine harvester at a separate location in Zaporizhzhya region on August 18, killing one farm worker and injuring another, Ukrainian officials said.
Drone Strike Near Nuclear Plant
The IAEA said it was told by the director of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant that a drone hit a bus stop used by plant staff and subcontractors at about 6 a.m. The drone strike killed one person and injured 15 others, three of them seriously, but no nuclear safety or security damage was reported. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi called on military commanders to stop actions targeting nuclear power plants or their staff, saying they pose great risks to nuclear safety during the conflict. Russia blamed Ukraine for the drone hit; there was no immediate comment from Kyiv. The Zaporizhzhya plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station with six reactors, has been under Russian control since shortly after the February 2022 full-scale invasion.
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Zelenskyy nominates Khmara as defense minister; Russian missiles kill 10 in Kharkiv region
