The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has made a decision to appoint two new deputy ministers of defense — Serhiy Melnyk and Serhiy Boyev. Both were recommended by the Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Serhiy Boyev has been appointed as the deputy minister of defense for European integration. Previously, he held the position of deputy minister for strategic industries of Ukraine. Between 2016 and 2022, Boyev held leadership roles at Naftogaz of Ukraine and Ukrgazvydobuvannya, as well as working at leading international banks and the consulting firm The Boston Consulting Group, which provided him with significant experience in finance and management.
The second newly appointed deputy minister of defense is Serhiy Melnyk, a brigadier general. In 2022, he successfully completed advanced strategic leadership courses (L-4) at the National Defense University of Ukraine. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, he has been in charge of the defense of Kharkiv.
Melnyk holds a Doctor of Law degree, is a professor of military law, a distinguished educator in Ukraine, and a recipient of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of education.
Additionally, on October 11, it became known that the government, upon Umerov's submission, has dismissed Oleksandr Balanytsia from the position of deputy minister of defense. He held this position since May 17, 2024, and was responsible for the area of European integration.