Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-07-20

Zelensky Replaces NSDC Secretary Umerov With Former Interior Minister Klymenko in Security Leadership Reshuffle

BLUFKlymenko's appointment completes a law-enforcement takeover of Ukraine's security apparatus, leaving unresolved who actually holds the trilateral negotiating portfolio once talks resume.

President Volodymyr Zelensky offered former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko the post of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council on Friday, saying an appointment decree is already in preparation 1234. Klymenko is set to replace Rustem Umerov, who has served as NSDC secretary for the past year and whose next post has not been announced 25. As NSDC secretary, Umerov has also led Ukraine's delegation to the trilateral peace talks with Russia and the United States, which have been stalled since February 2. Klymenko, interior minister since February 2023, was replaced in that post by National Police chief Ivan Vyhivsky when the Rada confirmed the new Cabinet under Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky on July 16 4. Klymenko had earlier been floated for defense minister before Zelensky nominated SBU chief Yevhen Khmara instead 15.

Analysis
Klymenko's shift to the NSDC completes Zelensky's post-reshuffle consolidation of security leadership under police and law-enforcement figures rather than defense or diplomatic officials, following Vyhivsky's move to Interior and Khmara's nomination at Defense, though sourcing traces uniformly to a single Zelensky statement rather than independent confirmation despite four primary outlets carrying it. Umerov's next post remains unannounced, leaving unresolved who inherits his role steering Ukraine's delegation to the stalled trilateral talks with Russia and the United States. The reshuffle may reflect consolidation of loyalist law-enforcement figures around Zelensky amid corruption-related political pressure rather than a genuine upgrade in national security coordination capacity, and whether Klymenko or Umerov ends up shaping Ukraine's negotiating posture will only become clear once talks resume.

5 sources

Zelensky offers Klymenko post of NSDC Secretary - Ukrinform
Ex-interior minister tapped to head Ukraine's Security Council - Kyiv Independent
Zelenskyy names Klymenko as Ukraine's security council secretary - NV.ua
Zelenskyy: Former Interior Minister Klymenko will become Secretary of the NSDC - Interfax-Ukraine
Within days, Zelensky has fired his cabinet, ousted his defense minister, and is now replacing his security council chief - Meduza