Kyiv is preparing a comprehensive plan for conducting the war against Russia and hopes to secure early access to part of a €45 billion European Union loan. Ukraine’s new Defense Minister, Yevgeniy Khmara, said Kyiv intends to present international partners with a clear strategy outlining specific objectives, projects, expected results, and implementation timelines.

 

Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Yevgeniy Khmara has announced plans to present international partners with a comprehensive military strategy for the country. According to Khmara, the document will define Ukraine’s main objectives in the war with Russia, the projects required to achieve them, expected results, and timelines for implementation.

The initiative is linked not only to military planning but also to the need to secure additional financial resources to sustain the war effort.

According to Reuters, Kyiv is seeking early disbursement of part of a €45 billion European Union loan that was initially planned for 2027. Ukraine hopes to use these funds to cover a significant portion of its military budget shortfall, estimated at around $27 billion.

At the same time, Ukrainian authorities intend to intensify negotiations with existing partners and attract additional countries to contribute to the financing of Ukraine’s defense.

Khmara stressed the need for closer coordination between the political leadership, military command, and frontline units. He said that the strategy should take into account the direct experience of soldiers involved in combat operations.

One of the key elements of Ukraine’s strategy remains the development of long-range strike capabilities. In recent months, Kyiv has intensified drone attacks against Russian infrastructure, including facilities linked to energy production and military logistics.

At the same time, the Ukrainian military continues to face serious challenges, including shortages of personnel and air-defense systems.

Particular attention is being paid to the development of domestic countermeasures against Russia’s new generation of drones. Kyiv is testing specialized interceptor drones designed to counter high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles that Russia has increasingly used in attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Against this backdrop, Russian air strikes against Ukraine have also intensified. Over the previous four days, Russia launched around 1,500 drones, seriously disrupting urban infrastructure and transportation systems in the capital.

Khmara’s appointment is part of a broader restructuring of Ukraine’s military leadership. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, with Mykhailo Drapatyi taking the position from Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The new leadership of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry is therefore seeking to establish a more coordinated system of military management that combines operational planning, the development of defense technologies, and the provision of the resources needed by the armed forces.

 

Ukraine is seeking to move from a strategy focused primarily on holding the front line toward a long-term strategy of attrition aimed at weakening Russia, relying on drones, long-range strikes, and technological superiority. By requesting early EU funding, Kyiv is effectively seeking to synchronize its military strategy with the financial resources required to implement it. The key test for the new strategy will be Ukraine’s ability to compensate for its shortage of personnel through technology while maintaining the resilience of its air defenses and defense industry.

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31.08.2026 10:00