Rustem Umerov has carried out significant personnel changes within the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine aimed at improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the agency during wartime
This year, the Minister of Defense implemented a series of important adjustments to the ministry’s leadership, which have strategic importance for strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and deepening cooperation with international partners. Since the beginning of 2024, Umerov has managed to make several key appointments focused on restructuring the management framework of the ministry. Notably, Sergey Boyev has been promoted to First Deputy Minister. Previously, Boyev served as Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Partnerships, so now he will be responsible for coordinating all deputy ministers and aligning key areas of the Ministry of Defense’s work. The minister emphasized in his official Facebook statement that this decision aims to ensure a unified course and quick response to front-line challenges, as well as to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with international allies. In addition, the government appointed new deputy ministers to ensure more effective and flexible management of certain aspects of the defense budget and resources. Specifically, Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister for Logistics and Procurement. The minister highlighted that this step is intended to simplify bureaucratic processes and accelerate the delivery of critically important military equipment, technology, and materials to the front. Shevtsov, along with the administrative and operational divisions and the Department of Operational Technology (DOT), is already working on digitizing logistical procedures, which aims to significantly reduce the time between order placement and delivery, as well as to make the process more transparent and controllable. Another significant appointment was that of Oleksandr Kozhenko as Deputy Minister of Defense. Previously, he served as the acting advisor to the minister and was responsible for the development of the country's aviation sector. In his new role, Kozhenko will oversee the enhancement of Ukraine’s defense aviation capabilities, including modernization of the technical fleet, development of aviation infrastructure, and integration of cutting-edge technologies into this field. According to Umerov, this is an important component of strengthening the country's defense strategy. It should be noted that personnel changes also involved some losses — for example, Sergey Melnyk resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of Defense. It is known that Melnyk will continue working in a field where his experience and knowledge have proven particularly valuable for further developing and strengthening Ukraine’s defense system. He will shift to a different area of activity, although no additional details about his new role have been disclosed. Overall, these personnel decisions reflect the Defense Ministry leadership’s commitment to optimizing management processes, increasing flexibility, and enhancing response speed amid military challenges. They are steps toward creating a stronger, more modern defense system capable of countering external threats and effectively coordinating efforts with international partners. In the near future, the success of these reforms will depend on the ability of Ukrainian forces to respond swiftly and effectively to any developments on the front line, as well as to ensure the stable development of the country’s defense infrastructure.