List of ministers of defense (Ukraine)

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| image_title = Portrait

| officeholder_title = Minister of Defense

| showtermlenght = y

| party_col = 1

| showaltofficeholder = y

| showdefencebranch = y

| alt_officeholder_title = President(s) served under

| showref = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 1

| image = Kostyantyn Morozov (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Colonel general

| officeholder = Kostyantyn Morozov

| officeholder_sort = Morozov, Kostyantyn

| born_year = 1944

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 September 1991

| term_end = 30 September 1993

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1991|09|03|1993|09|30}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{air force|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kravchuk

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1473-12 Verkhovna Rada Resolution No. 1473-XII "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=540%2F92 Order of President of Ukraine No. 540/1992 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} {{Citation | title = Commanders of Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Armed Forces of Ukraine (1991-2009) | journal = Army of Ukraine ("Військо України") | volume = 114 | issue = 12 | pages = 4 | accessdate = February 19, 2011 | url = http://www.vu.mil.gov.ua/pdf/2006-12.pdf}}{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=418%2F93 Order of President of Ukraine No. 418/1993 "Regarding acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Portrait placeholder.png

| military_rank = Colonel general

| officeholder = Ivan Bizhan

| officeholder_sort = Bizhan, Ivan

| born_year = 1941

| died_year =

| term_start = 4 October 1993

| term_end = 8 October 1993

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|10|4|1993|10|8}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kravchuk

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 2

| image = Portrait placeholder.png

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Vitalyi Radetskyi

| officeholder_sort = Radetskyi, Vitalyi

| born_year = 1944

| died_year =

| term_start = 8 October 1993

| term_end = 25 August 1994

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|10|8|1994|8|25}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kravchuk

| alt_officeholder2 = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=434%2F93 Order of President of Ukraine No. 434/1993 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=567%2F93 Order of President of Ukraine No. 567/1993 "Regarding promotion of V. Radetskyi"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=477%2F94 Order of President of Ukraine No. 477/1994 "Regarding acting Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Valeriy Shmarov.jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Valeriy Shmarov

| officeholder_sort = Shmarov, Valeriy

| born_year = 1945

| died_year = 2018

| term_start = 25 August 1994

| term_end = 10 October 1994

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|8|25|1994|10|10}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=579%2F94 Order of President of Ukraine No. 579/1994 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 3

| image = Valeriy Shmarov.jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Valeriy Shmarov

| officeholder_sort = Shmarov, Valeriy

| born_year = 1945

| died_year = 2018

| term_start = 10 October 1994

| term_end = 8 July 1996

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|10|10|1996|7|8}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} {{Citation | title = Commanders of Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Armed Forces of Ukraine (1991-2009) | journal = Army of Ukraine ("Військо України") | volume = 114 | issue = 12 | pages = 5 | accessdate = February 19, 2011 | url = http://www.vu.mil.gov.ua/pdf/2006-12.pdf}}{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=533%2F95 Order of President of Ukraine No. 533/1995 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=520%2F96 Order of President of Ukraine No. 520/1996 "Dismissal of V. Shmarov from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 4

| image = O-Kuzmuk.jpg

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Oleksandr Kuzmuk

| officeholder_sort = Kuzmuk, Oleksandr

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 11 July 1996

| term_end = 24 October 2001

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1996|7|11|2001|10|24}}

| alt_party = Party of Regions

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=528%2F96 Order of President of Ukraine No. 528/1996 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=697%2F97 Order of President of Ukraine No. 697/1997 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1652%2F99 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1652/1999 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=370%2F2001 Order of President of Ukraine No. 370/2001 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]
{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=359%2F2001 Order of President of Ukraine No. 359/2001 "Dismissal of O. Kuzmuk from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1012%2F2001 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1012/2001 "Dismissal of O. Kuzmuk from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1162%2F96 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1162/1996 "Regarding promotion of O. Kuzmuk"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=922%2F98 Order of President of Ukraine No. 922/1998 "Regarding promotion of O. Kuzmuk"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 5

| image = Volodymyr Shkidchenko.jpg

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Volodymyr Shkidchenko

| officeholder_sort = Shkidchenko, Volodymyr

| born_year = 1948

| died_year =

| term_start = 12 November 2001

| term_end = 25 June 2003

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2001|11|12|2003|06|24}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1070%2F2001 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1070/2001 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1102%2F2002 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1102/2002 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} {{Citation | title = Commanders of Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Armed Forces of Ukraine (1991-2009) | journal = Army of Ukraine ("Військо України") | volume = 114 | issue = 12 | pages = 6 | accessdate = February 19, 2011 | url = http://www.vu.mil.gov.ua/pdf/2006-12.pdf}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 6

| image = Yevhen Marchuk (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Yevhen Marchuk

| officeholder_sort = Marchuk, Yevhen

| born_year = 1941

| died_year = 2021

| term_start = 25 June 2003

| term_end = 23 September 2004

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|6|25|2004|9|23}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=550%2F2003 Order of President of Ukraine No. 550/2003 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1114%2F2004 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1114/2004 "Dismissal of Y. Marchuk from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 7

| image = O-Kuzmuk.jpg

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Oleksandr Kuzmuk

| officeholder_sort = Kuzmuk, Oleksandr

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 September 2004

| term_end = 3 February 2005

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|09|23|2005|02|03}}

| alt_party = Party of Regions

| alt_officeholder = Leonid Kuchma

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder2 = Viktor Yushchenko

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1115%2F2004 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1115/2004 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=133%2F2005 Order of President of Ukraine No. 133/2005 "Dismissal of O. Kuzmuk from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 8

| image = Msc 2006-Saturday, 16.00 - 18.00-Grytsenko.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Anatoliy Hrytsenko

| officeholder_sort = Hrytsenko, Anatoliy

| born_year = 1957

| died_year =

| term_start = 4 February 2005

| term_end = 18 December 2007

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2005|2|4|2007|12|18}}

| alt_party = Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc

| defence_branch = {{air force|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yushchenko

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=154%2F2005 Order of President of Ukraine No. 154/2005 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} {{Citation

| title = Commanders of Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Armed Forces of Ukraine (1991-2009) | journal = Army of Ukraine ("Військо України") | volume = 114 | issue = 12 | pages = 7 | accessdate = February 19, 2011

| url = http://www.vu.mil.gov.ua/pdf/2006-12.pdf}}{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1399%2F2005 Order of President of Ukraine No. 1399/2005 "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 9

| image = Yuriy Yekhanurov 2013.jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Yuriy Yekhanurov

| officeholder_sort = Yekhanurov, Yuriy

| born_year = 1948

| died_year =

| term_start = 18 December 2007

| term_end = 5 June 2009

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2007|12|18|2009|6|5}}

| alt_party = Revival (Ukraine)

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yushchenko

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=10-17 Verkhovna Rada Resolution No. 10-VI "Regarding forming of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine"]{{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1477-17 Verkhovna Rada Resolution No. 1477-VI "Dismissal of Y. Yekhanurov from Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Иващенко (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Valeriy Ivashchenko

| officeholder_sort = Ivashchenko, Valeriy

| born_year = 1956

| died_year =

| term_start = 5 June 2009

| term_end = 11 March 2010

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|6|5|2010|3|11}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{air force|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yushchenko

| alt_officeholder2 = Viktor Yanukovych

| ref = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 10

| image = Mykhailo Yezhel (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Mykhailo Yezhel

| officeholder_sort = Yezhel, Mykhailo

| born_year = 1952

| died_year =

| term_start = 11 March 2010

| term_end = 8 February 2012

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2010|3|11|2012|2|8}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{navy|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yanukovych

| ref = {{in lang|uk}} [http://zakon.rada.gov.ua/cgi-bin/laws/main.cgi?nreg=1970-17 Verkhovna Rada Resolution No. 1970-VI "Regarding Minister of Defence of Ukraine"]

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 11

| image = НДУ 6 Саламатін Дмитро Альбертович.jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Dmytro Salamatin

| officeholder_sort = Salamatin, Dmytro

| born_year = 1965

| died_year =

| term_start = 8 February 2012

| term_end = 24 December 2012

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|2|8|2012|12|24}}

| alt_party = Party of Regions

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yanukovych

| ref = [http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122085/ Yanukovych replaces defense minister], Kyiv Post (8 February 2012)

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 12

| image = Pavlo Lebedyev.jpg

| military_rank = Captain

| officeholder = Pavlo Lebedyev

| officeholder_sort = Lebedyev, Pavlo

| born_year = 1962

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 December 2012

| term_end = 27 February 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2012|12|24|2014|02|27}}

| alt_party = Party of Regions

| defence_branch = {{army|Soviet Union}}

| alt_officeholder = Viktor Yanukovych

| alt_officeholder2 = Oleksandr Turchynov

| ref = [http://www.unian.info/news/543116-yanukovych-appoints-new-staff-of-cabinet-of-ministers-of-ukraine.html President of Ukraine has appointed new staff of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine], UNIAN (24 December 2012)

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Volodymyr Zamana.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel general

| officeholder = Volodymyr Zamana

| officeholder_sort = Zamana, Volodymyr

| officeholder_note = {{small|as Commissar}}

| born_year = 1959

| died_year =

| term_start = 22 February 2014

| term_end = 27 February 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|02|22|2014|02|27}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Oleksandr Turchynov

| ref = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Тенюх Ігор Йосипович (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Admiral

| officeholder = Ihor Tenyukh

| officeholder_sort = Tenyukh, Ihor

| born_year = 1958

| died_year =

| term_start = 27 February 2014

| term_end = 25 March 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|02|27|2014|03|25}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Svoboda (political party)

| defence_branch = {{navy|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Oleksandr Turchynov

| ref = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Mykhailo Koval photo (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Colonel general

| officeholder = Mykhailo Koval

| officeholder_sort = Koval, Mykhailo

| born_year = 1956

| died_year =

| term_start = 25 March 2014

| term_end = 3 July 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|03|25|2014|07|03}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Oleksandr Turchynov

| alt_officeholder2 = Petro Poroshenko

| ref = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 13

| image = Valeriy Heletey 2014 (cropped 1).jpg

| military_rank = Colonel general

| officeholder = Valeriy Heletey

| officeholder_sort = Heletey, Valeriy

| born_year = 1967

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 July 2014

| term_end = 14 October 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|07|03|2014|10|14}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Petro Poroshenko

| ref = [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28144334 Ukraine's new defence minister promises Crimea victory], BBC News (3 July 2014)[http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/211936.html Heletei appointed Ukrainian defense minister], Interfax-Ukraine (3 July 2014)

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 14

| image = Stepan Poltorak portrait.jpg

| military_rank = General of the Army

| officeholder = Stepan Poltorak

| officeholder_sort = Poltorak, Stepan

| born_year = 1965

| died_year =

| term_start = 14 October 2014

| term_end = 29 August 2019

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|10|14|2019|08|29}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Petro Poroshenko

| ref = –

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 15

| image = Андрій Загороднюк КМУ.jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Andrii Zahorodniuk

| officeholder_sort = Zahorodniuk, Andrii

| born_year = 1976

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 August 2019

| term_end = 4 March 2020

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|08|29|2020|03|04}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Volodymyr Zelenskyy

| ref = {{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2019/08/29/7224795/|title = Квота Зеленського: Рада призначила міністра оборони}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 16

| image = Andriy Taran Photo (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant general

| officeholder = Andriy Taran

| officeholder_sort = Taran, Andriy

| born_year = 1955

| died_year =

| term_start = 4 March 2020

| term_end = 3 November 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|03|04|2021|11|03}}[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3344201-verkhovna-rada-dismisses-defense-minister-andriy-taran.html Verkhovna Rada dismisses Defense Minister Andriy Taran], Ukrinform (3 November 2021)

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{army|Ukraine}}

| alt_officeholder = Volodymyr Zelenskyy

| ref = [https://www.unian.info/m/politics/10902101-ukrainian-lawmakers-appoint-andriy-taran-as-new-defense-minister.html Ukrainian lawmakers appoint Andriy Taran as new defense minister], by UNIAN

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 17

| image = Oleksii Reznikov official portrait (cropped).jpg

| military_rank = Sergeant

| officeholder = Oleksii Reznikov

| officeholder_sort = Reznikov, Oleksii

| born_year = 1966

| died_year =

| term_start = 4 November 2021

| term_end = 5 September 2023

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2021|11|04|2023|09|05}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

| defence_branch = {{air force|Soviet Union}}

| alt_officeholder = Volodymyr Zelenskyy

| ref = [https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-new-defense-minister/31545565.html Ukrainian Lawmakers Approve Reznikov As New Defense Minister], Radio Free Europe (4 November 2021)

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 18

| image = Rustem Umerov (2023-09-14) (cropped).jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = Rustem Umerov

| officeholder_sort = Umerov, Rustem

| born_year = 1982

| died_year =

| term_start = 6 September 2023

| term_end =

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2023|9|06}}

| alt_party = Holos (political party)

| defence_branch = None

| alt_officeholder = Volodymyr Zelenskyy

| ref = {{cite web |last1=Harmash |first1=Olena |last2=Dysa |first2=Yuliia |last3=Polityuk |first3=Pavel |last4=Heritage |first4=Timothy |title=Ukraine's parliament approves ex-lawmaker Rustem Umerov as defence minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-parliament-approves-rustem-umerov-new-defence-minister-lawmaker-2023-09-06/ |website=Reuters |access-date=6 September 2023}}

}}

{{Officeholder table end

}}

The current Minister of Defense is Rustem Umierov who was sworn in by the Verkhovna Rada on 6 September.The longest-serving Minister of Defense is Oleksandr Kuzmuk who served for a total of 2,063 days.
The longest serving as an acting Minister of Defense is Valeriy Ivashchenko who served for a total 279 days (over 9 months).

Created on 27 May 1992, the office of deputy ministers was expanded on 4 June 1992 with the chief of the General Staff holding the post until 8 February 2002. Since 10 September 2003, the post was "demilitarized", held only by civilian or retired military personnel. The first deputy serves as an acting minister in absence of officially appointed minister unless specified otherwise.

• 27 May 1992 – 24 March 1993 Lieutenant General Ivan Bizhan (since 24 December 1991 a deputy minister; Chief of the General Staff since 25 September 1992)
• 4 June 1992 – 25 September 1992 Lieutenant General Vasyl Sobkov (Chief of the General Staff)
• 24 March 1993 – 10 February 1996 Colonel General Anatoliy Lopata (Chief of the General Staff)
• 12 March 1996 – 30 September 1998 Lieutenant General Oleksandr Zatynaiko (Chief of the General Staff)
• 14 March 1996 – 8 February 2002 Colonel General Ivan Bizhan
• 30 September 1998 – 13 November 2001 Colonel General Volodymyr Shkidchenko (Chief of the General Staff)
• 27 November 2001 – 8 February 2002 Colonel General Petro Shkulyak (Chief of the General Staff)
• In 2002 — 2003 all deputies were replaced (phased away) by newly created posts of state secretaries, but after the reform was reverted.
• 25 January 2002 – 10 September 2003 Oleksandr Oliynyk
• 5 February 2002 – 14 August 2003 Colonel General Viktor Bannykh (on issues of international cooperation) (died in office)
• 10 September 2003 – ? November 2004 Oleksandr Oliynyk
• 13 September 2003 – 7 October 2004 Valentyna Hoshovska (humanitarian policy and relations with parliament)
• 5 October 2004 – 10 February 2005 Dmytro Rudkovskyi (governor of the office of Ministry of Defence)
• 6 October 2004 – 25 February 2005 Oleksandr Stetsenko
• 26 October 2004 – 25 February 2005 Volodymyr Bilyi (humanitarian policy and relations with parliament)
• 19 February 2005 – 23 January 2008 Leonid Polyakov
• 5 June 2009 – 26 May 2010 Valeriy Ivashchenko
• 31 March 2010 – 2 June 2010 Hryhoriy Pedchenko
• 18 August 2010 – 18 February 2012 Volodymyr Mozharovsky
• 18 February 2012 – 5 March 2014 Oleksandr Oliynyk
• 15 September 2014 – 14 February 2023 Ivan Rusnak
• 14 February 2023 – 10 February 2024 Oleksandr Pavliuk{{Cite news |date=2023-02-14 |title=Ukraine's defence minister taps new deputies after corruption scandal |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-defence-minister-taps-new-deputies-after-corruption-scandal-2023-02-14/ |access-date=2023-09-18}}

Historically, the ministry was preceding by various other governmental institutions. The very first Ukrainian representative in military affairs was Symon Petlyura, appointed by Volodymyr Vynnychenko to General Secretariat of Ukraine in the summer of 1917. Later in December 1917 after establishing the Bolshevik government in Kharkiv the Military Secretary of Ukraine was opposed by the Military Secretary of Soviet Ukraine whom the first was Vasyl Shakhrai. Note that the first ministers of Ukraine were not specialists in military affairs, particularly such as Mykola Porsh.

The Ukrainian People's Army was in terrible condition and it was not until the power in the country was taken over by the former head of the Russian Imperial Retinue and hereditary Ukrainian Cossack Pavlo Skoropadsky, under leadership of which the new minister became Aleksandr Rogoza (also known as Oleksandr Rohoza). Rogoza was instrumental in restructuring the ministry and recruiting numerous former Russian Imperial generals who pledged their allegiance to the government of Ukraine. By the end of 1918 Bolsheviks recreated the Ukrainian Soviet government and to its office of military affairs was appointed Nikolai Podvoisky, former narkom of Military Affairs of Soviet Russia who played a key role in the October Revolution. Around that time there was created the government of the West Ukrainian People's Republic, the office of military affairs of which was headed by Dmytro Vitovsky who was a specialist in special operations, particularly the mountain warfare. Vitovsky played a key role in securing the city of Lviv and ensuring the proclamation of independence of the new Ukrainian state from the disintegrating Austro-Hungary.

• Dmytro Vitovsky
• Viktor Kurmanovych

• Vasyl Shakhrai
• Yuriy Kotsyubynsky
• Nikolai Podvoisky
• Valeriy Mezhlauk
• Vasyl Herasymenko

• Prime minister of Ukraine
• Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

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{{Ukrainian Ministers of Defence}}

{{National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine}}

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Defense

Category:National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine