ISTANBUL 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that he proposed the appointment of Mykhailo Fedorov, the digital transformation minister, as the country's new defense minister.

"I have proposed to Mykhailo Fedorov that he become the new Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Mykhailo is deeply involved in the issues related to the Drone Line and works very effectively on digitalizing public services and processes," Zelenskyy said in his evening video address shared on US social media company X.

He said his proposal to Fedorov is part of a "substantial" wave of personnel changes to make his country "more resilient," noting that Denys Shmyhal, who assumed the post of defense minister in July 2025, will continue to remain in government, but did not give further details.

In his address, Zelenskyy said that a new head of Ukraine's State Border Guard Service will be appointed, and that he is awaiting nominations from Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko on the matter.

He added that Serhii Deineko, who has currently been serving as State Border Guard Service chief for over six years, will "continue his work within the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Also recalling his earlier appointment of Kyrylo Budanov, who previously served as defense intelligence chief, to the post of Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Zelenskyy said that Oleh Ivashchenko, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, will replace him.

"A decision regarding the Foreign Intelligence Service will follow soon," the Ukrainian president went on to say. Budanov and Ivashchenko's appointments were confirmed by presidential decree.

Zelenskyy also said that he instructed preparations for a presidential draft law to "update" the State Bureau of Investigation, and that he expects the draft law to be ready within the month for submission to Ukraine's parliament.

"Tomorrow (Saturday), we will continue the changes. Further decisions will follow," he added.

The changes announced by Zelenskyy came as diplomatic efforts, led by the US, continue in search of a settlement to the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.