Ukraine appoints Crimean Tatar Muslim as new defense minister

With an extensive experience as a negotiator, Umerov was instrumental in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and peace talks with Russia

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Crimean Tatar Rustem Umerov as the country’s defense minister.

The 41-year-old Umerov, a well-known figure from the Crimean Tatar community, has been instrumental in negotiations with Russia since the beginning of the conflict.

Although he belongs to an opposition Holos Party, Umerov has brokered several deals important to Ukraine in the past, including grain exports and prisoner exchanges.

He has extensive experience as a negotiator and was instrumental in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and peace talks with Russia.

Umerov has frequently expressed concern about Russia’s commitment to peace agreements.

According to experts, his background in economics and diplomacy will be crucial to Ukraine’s military transformation.

However, his limited direct experience in the defense sector could be a handicap.

He was born in Uzbekistan, where Stalin deported tens of thousands of Crimean Tatars in 1944 and returned to Crimea as a child in the early 1990s.

Umerov replaces Oleksii Reznikov amid controversy at the Defense Ministry.

Reznikov’s tenure included allegations of corruption in the awarding of contracts that, while not directly affecting him, cast a shadow over the ministry’s integrity.

As for the status of Crimea, Umerov firmly believes in Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Zelensky’s nomination has yet to be confirmed by the Ukrainian parliament.

Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014 is home to around 350,000 Tatars.