It Has Been Revealed Who Will Head The SBU

• 17.07.2026, 8:15

The current head of the intelligence agency will become Ukraine's defense minister.

First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad will serve as acting head of the SBU. This was reported by “Ukrainska Pravda” reported this, citing sources close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It is not clear whether the president plans to appoint Poklad as the permanent head of the SBU.

Poklad has served as deputy head of the SBU since 2023 and was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine in 2025.

Following the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of defense minister, Zelenskyy instructed the acting head of the SBU, Major General Yevhen Khmara, to perform the duties of defense minister.

At the same time, according to Ukrainian law, the position of Minister of Defense must be held exclusively by a civilian, although Khmara is an active-duty military officer.