Evhenii Khmara (general)
Yevhenii Khmara | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Євгеній Леонідович Хмара |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Branch | Security Service of Ukraine |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Security Service of Ukraine (acting head) |
| Conflicts | Russo-Ukrainian War |
Yevhenii Leonidovych Khmara (Ukrainian: Євгеній Леонідович Хмара) is a Ukrainian security service officer and major general appointed acting head of Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on 5 January 2026.[1][2] Previously he led the Center Special Operations “A” (Alpha) of the SBU. He has held other senior command positions within SBU special operations units during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[3]
Career
In April 2023, Khmara was appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as head of the SBU unit responsible for special operations, counterterrorism activities, and the protection of participants in criminal proceedings and law enforcement officials.[4]
Following legislative reforms restructuring the SBU's special operations forces, Khmara was reappointed on 25 August 2025 as head of the reorganized and renamed Center for Special Operations “A”.[5] The unit, informally known as "Alpha", conducts counterterrorism and other special missions as part of Ukraine's national security framework.[6]
On 5 January 2026, President Zelenskyy appointed Khmara as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), entrusting him with leadership of the agency during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.[2] He succeeded Vasyl Malyuk.
Rank
On 23 June 2024, President Zelenskyy awarded Khmara the military rank of major general. The promotion was reported by Ukrainian media as part of a broader decree conferring senior ranks within Ukraine's security and defense sector.[7]
References
- ^ Yuliia Dysa; Max Hunder (5 January 2026). "Ukraine replaces spy boss who oversaw 'Spiderweb' airbases attack". Reuters. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy named Major-General Yevhenii Khmara as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) following the replacement of Vasyl Maliuk.
- ^ a b Romanenko, Valentyna (5 January 2026). "Зеленський призначив нового в.о. голови СБУ" [Zelenskyy appointed a new acting head of Security Service of Ukraine]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian).
- ^ Horlach, Polina (5 January 2026). "Піаніст чи генерал-майор: українці мемами розбиралися, який Євген Хмара очолив СБУ" [Pianist or Major General: Ukrainians Used Memes to Figure Out Which Yevhen Khmara Headed the SBU]. Суспільне Культура (Suspilne) (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Romanenko, Valentyna (14 April 2023). "Zelensky appoints new head of SBU special operations unit". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ Herasimova, Tetiana (25 August 2025). "Zelenskyy reappoints Khmara as head of SSU Special Operations Center "A"". Ukrainian News Agency. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Центр спеціальних операцій «А» СБУ". Ukraїner (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "President awards rank of major general to head of SBU Special Operations Center "A"". Ukrainian National News. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.