Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to appoint former interior minister Ihor Klymenko as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, completing another stage of a contentious wartime government reshuffle.

After making the controversial decision to sack Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after only six months on the job, Klymenko was Zelenskiy preferred candidate to take over. However, following street protests on the day of the announcements of Fedorov’s departure, Zelenskiy has backed off and the post remains open.

Spy chief Yevhenii Khmara has been put in as temporary Defence Minister as the Rada breaks up for its summer break and will settle the question of a permanent appointee when it returns to work on August 18. Currently there is no permanent foreign minister either.

Zelenskiy said on July 17 that a decree appointing Klymenko was being prepared and praised his handling of the interior ministry, which oversees Ukraine’s police, border guards and National Guard.

“There have been many difficult challenges, and the response has always been effective,” Zelenskiy said. “I offered him the position of Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.”

Klymenko, a former national police chief who became interior minister in 2023, had initially been considered as a replacement for ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. That proposal was abandoned after Fedorov’s removal triggered protests and resistance among lawmakers.

Klymenko will replace Rustem Umerov at the security council, who also served as defence minister.

The president said Klymenko’s main task would be improving co-ordination across Ukraine’s military, intelligence and security institutions, as well as overseeing defence production.

“Every decision of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine and the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief must be implemented in full and within the established timeframe,” Zelenskiy said.