List of ministers of defense (Ukraine)

This page lists the Ministers of Defense of Ukraine since the post was established in 1991 following Ukraine's declaration of independence. The Minister of Defense is the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and is responsible for the administration and operational control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Minister is a civilian position, though often held by retired or former military officers. The Minister is nominated by the President of Ukraine and confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).

Ministers of Defense of Ukraine:

• Kostyantyn Morozov (September 3, 1991 – October 4, 1993)
• Vitaliy Radetskyi (October 4, 1993 – August 25, 1994)
• Valeriy Shmarov (August 25, 1994 – July 11, 1996)
• Oleksandr Kuzmuk (July 11, 1996 – October 23, 2001)
• Volodymyr Shkidchenko (October 23, 2001 – June 12, 2003)
• Yevhen Marchuk (June 25, 2003 – September 29, 2004)
• Oleksandr Kuzmuk (September 29, 2004 – February 3, 2005) (2nd term)
• Anatoliy Hrytsenko (February 4, 2005 – December 18, 2007)
• Yuriy Yekhanurov (December 18, 2007 – June 5, 2009)
• Volodymyr Ohryzko (Acting, June 5, 2009 – June 12, 2009)
• Yuriy Yekhanurov (June 12, 2009 - March 11, 2010) (Resumed office)
• Mykhailo Yezhel (March 11, 2010 – February 8, 2012)
• Dmytro Salamatin (February 8, 2012 – December 24, 2012)
• Pavlo Lebedyev (December 24, 2012 – February 27, 2014)
• Ihor Tenyukh (February 27, 2014 – March 25, 2014)
• Mykhailo Koval (Acting, March 25, 2014 – July 3, 2014)
• Valeriy Heletey (July 3, 2014 – October 14, 2014)
• Stepan Poltorak (October 14, 2014 – August 29, 2019)
• Andriy Zahorodniuk (August 29, 2019 – March 4, 2020)
• Andrii Taran (March 4, 2020 – November 3, 2021)
• Oleksii Reznikov (November 4, 2021 – September 3, 2023)
• Rustem Umerov (September 6, 2023 – Present)

See also:

• Ministry of Defense (Ukraine)
• Politics of Ukraine