Industry experts welcome the restoration of the dedicated Deputy Minister for the Defense Industry
The appointment of Hanna Hvozdiar as a dedicated Deputy Minister of Defense for the Defense Industry has been hailed as the main personnel achievement of the new Minister, Yevhenii Khmara. Industry representatives view this move as a restoration of systemic communication with domestic manufacturers. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Лев Шевченко), according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Ihor Fedirko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers, noted that Hanna Hvozdiar possesses a deep understanding of market needs and the problematic aspects of cooperation between defense companies and state structures. According to the expert, the appointment of a dedicated official will enable more effective dialogue.
Organization of Interaction with the Defense Industry
CEO of NAUDI Serhii Honcharov also supports this personnel decision, emphasizing the importance of having a specialized deputy. He points out that without such a role, coordination between ministry departments becomes complicated, and delegating these duties to the First Deputy Minister is counterproductive.
Industry circles recalled that the previous management team did not pay due attention to defining a dedicated official responsible for this area. Restoring this position was among the key expectations from weapons manufacturers.
Changes in Communication Approach
Ihor Fedirko notes an overall shift in the working style of the Ministry of Defense under Yevhenii Khmara’s leadership regarding industry engagement. While the agency previously attempted to conduct dialogues with each manufacturer individually, often ignoring the role of professional associations, the new minister has restored cooperation through these organizations.
Yevhenii Khmara took office as Minister of Defense on August 19, 2026. Prior to this appointment, he had a military career, having led the SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Center since August 2025 and served as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine since January 2026.
Illustrative photo: Власність Секретаріату Кабінету Міністрів України / CC BY 4.0
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