Cabinet promotes Boyev to First Deputy Minister of Defense, appoints 2 new Deputies of Umerov, and dismisses Melnyk

The Cabinet of Ministers promoted Serhii Boyev to First Deputy Minister of Defense, appointed Mykola Shevtsov and Oleksandr Kozenko as Deputy Ministers of Defense, and dismissed Deputy Minister of Defense Serhii Melnyk. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced this on Facebook, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

Boyev previously served as Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration.

Umerov noted that Boyev's experience in international relations, in particular in providing security assistance and security guarantees for Ukraine, is important against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation; he will coordinate all areas of work of the deputy ministers to ensure a single course - from the current needs of the front to the future architecture of the Ukrainian army.

Boyev's main task is to form a holistic strategy of actions: meeting the urgent needs of the army; development together with colleagues, in particular, Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Moysiuk, of the Future Force model - the Defense Forces of the Future, which are being created by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

"Serhii Boyev's priority is the development of international partnerships, financing and investments in the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex, as well as the creation of joint ventures with international partners. This will allow not only to strengthen our defense capability, but also to actively develop our own capabilities," Umerov said.

According to Umerov, Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics and Procurement. He called Shevtsov one of the most competent specialists in this field, who previously headed the Main Logistics Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, his main task will be further procurement reform and constant work with the market and manufacturers.

According to Umerov, Shevtsov, together with the Defense Procurement Agency and State Logistics Operator, will work to reduce the time for providing the military, simplifying bureaucratic procedures as much as possible and digitizing processes. An important task for Shevtsov is also constant feedback from the military at the front in order to promptly adjust needs and speed up the supply process.

Kozenko has held the position of Advisor to the Minister of Defense since November 2023 and was responsible for the development of state aviation, he has an education in international economics - a graduate of the Kyiv National Economic University, worked in the field of civil aviation, held management positions in a number of Ukrainian and international companies, founded and owned several businesses. In 2020-2023, he worked as an advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Kozenko will be responsible for the development of aviation capabilities in his new position.

Umerov also announced the dismissal of Deputy Minister of Defense Serhii Melnyk. He named among the significant achievements of his work the introduction of the "package of wounded" and adaptive clothing, the restoration of the hospital network, the launch of the Service for the Support of Military Personnel and Their Families, the creation of a recruiting network, as well as Ukraine's obtaining associate membership in the world's largest organization of reserve officers of NATO countries.

Umerov added that Melnyk will continue his work in another direction, where his experience will be extremely useful for further strengthening the state.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on April 18, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed First Deputy Minister of Defense Ivan Havryliuk.

In October 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Serhii Boyev as Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration, who had previously worked as Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries for European Integration since May 2023.

In October 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed the head of defense of Kharkiv, head of the Military Law Institute, Serhii Melnyk, as Deputy Minister of Defense.