Zelenski will appoint former Interior Minister Klimenko as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodimir Zelenski announced that he has decided to appoint former Interior Minister Igor Klimenko as the new secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO). Zelenski shared on his Telegram channel that the relevant decree document was being prepared following his meeting with Klimenko on Friday, 17 July.

Among the main priorities expected from Klimenko is ensuring effective coordination among all components in the security and defense sector. Additionally, monitoring the daily implementation of the decisions made by the RNBO and the Headquarters (Supreme Command) will be among the duties of the new secretary. Zelenski specifically emphasized the coordination of defense industry production as a separate priority.

This development emerged following the resignations in the cabinet. It was planned for Klimenko to be appointed as defense minister, but sufficient support could not be gathered in the parliament due to officials opposing the appointment of a police director to this position and the ensuing protests. Consequently, Klimenko was appointed to the position of RNBO secretary, a critical senior post in the security bureaucracy.