Ukraine Appoints Two Deputy Defense Ministers to Lead Personnel and EU Integration

Ukraine has appointed Liubov Halan and Serhii Boiev as deputy defense ministers, expanding the leadership team at the Ministry of Defense as Kyiv continues reforms focused on military personnel management and international defense cooperation. The appointments were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on July 29 and announced by government representatives and Acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. 

The appointments come less than two weeks after Khmara assumed the role of acting defense minister following broader leadership changes within Ukraine's security establishment. The latest personnel decisions continue an ongoing restructuring effort intended to improve institutional efficiency while maintaining international military assistance and accelerating defense modernization. 

Halan to Lead Human Capital and Military Personnel Policy

Liubov Halan will oversee human capital development across the Defense Ministry. According to Ukrainian officials, her portfolio includes recruitment, force retention, transparent career development, personnel training, healthcare, and social protection for service members and their families. 

Before joining the ministry, Halan co-founded the Pryntsyp human rights center, an organization focused on protecting the rights of military personnel. Officials indicated her experience will support ongoing reforms aimed at improving personnel management and strengthening legal safeguards for members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

Personnel policy has become an increasingly important area for Ukraine as the country seeks to sustain force generation while improving long-term retention and professional development after more than four years of full-scale war.

Boiev Takes Charge of European Integration and International Partnerships

Serhii Boiev has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration. His responsibilities include managing cooperation with the European Union, NATO, and international partners while translating political agreements into practical defense capabilities. 

His portfolio also covers international financing, weapons procurement coordination, joint defense projects, industrial cooperation, and long-term security assistance programs. Boiev has served within the Ministry of Defense since 2024, leading cooperation with foreign partners before assuming his new role. 

The appointment reflects Ukraine's continued emphasis on integrating more closely with European defense structures while sustaining military aid from allied governments.

Leadership Changes Continue Across the Ministry

The appointments follow a broader reshuffle within Ukraine's defense leadership that began earlier this month. Acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara has stated that the ministry's priority is building an organization capable of rapidly converting operational military requirements into practical solutions for the Defense Forces. 

Ukraine has continued adapting the Ministry of Defense's leadership structure throughout 2026, combining institutional reform with efforts to strengthen defense industrial cooperation, digital transformation, logistics, and international partnerships. The latest appointments reinforce two priorities that have become central to Kyiv's wartime strategy: sustaining military personnel and securing long-term Western support.