Zelenskyy dismisses strategic adviser Oleksandr Kamyshin from post

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Oleksandr Kamyshin from his post as an external presidential adviser on strategic issues, according to a decree issued on Aug. 31.

The decision ends Kamyshin’s nearly two-year tenure in the advisory role, although he said he intends to remain active in Ukraine’s defense sector, focusing on military technology investment and international industrial partnerships.

Zelenskyy signs decree ending Kamyshin’s advisory role

Presidential Decree No. 844/2026 formally relieved Kamyshin of his duties as an adviser to the president on strategic issues in an external, non-staff capacity.

The decree, signed by Zelenskyy on Aug. 31, contains no explanation for the decision and does not identify a successor.

The official document states simply that Oleksandr Kamyshin is to be relieved of his duties as presidential adviser on strategic issues.

Kamyshin confirmed separately that his work in the position had ended. His departure was also reported by Ukrainian media, including Ukrainska Pravda and the Kyiv Independent.

No announcement has yet been made on whether the presidential administration plans to appoint another official to the same advisory position.

Kamyshin says he will remain in the defense sector

Kamyshin said his departure from the presidential advisory role would not mark the end of his work in Ukraine’s defense industry.

Reflecting on the period since taking the job, he said Ukraine’s defense sector had become a strategic industry domestically and had begun integrating more closely with the defense-industrial architecture of Europe and the United States.

He thanked Zelenskyy for the trust placed in him and for the opportunity to contribute.

Kamyshin said his next priorities would include attracting investment into Ukraine’s military technology sector, commonly referred to as miltech, and developing international defense partnerships.

The statement suggests that Kamyshin intends to continue working around defense production and international cooperation, although he did not announce a new official government position.

Kamyshin became strategic adviser in September 2024

Zelenskyy appointed Kamyshin as an external adviser on strategic issues on Sept. 8, 2024, under Presidential Decree No. 623/2024.

The appointment came only days after Kamyshin left his previous position as Ukraine’s minister for strategic industries.

At the time, the move was widely viewed as keeping Kamyshin involved in defense-industrial policy after a broader government reshuffle.

Reuters reported in September 2024 that Kamyshin had played a significant role in expanding Ukraine’s domestic weapons production and promoting cooperation with international partners. His advisory role was expected to include defense-industry issues alongside other strategic matters.

Ukraine has placed increasing emphasis on domestic weapons manufacturing since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, particularly in drones, ammunition and other systems that can be produced or scaled inside the country.

Former minister oversaw strategic industries during wartime

Before joining the presidential advisory structure, Kamyshin served as Ukraine’s minister for strategic industries.

The Verkhovna Rada appointed him to that position on March 21, 2023. The ministry plays a central role in policies related to Ukraine’s strategic industrial capacity, including the defense manufacturing sector.

Parliament approved Kamyshin’s appointment with 312 votes in favor, according to official parliamentary voting records.

His tenure coincided with a period in which Ukraine sought to sharply increase domestic production of weapons and military equipment while simultaneously pursuing greater cooperation with Western defense manufacturers.

Kamyshin resigned as strategic industries minister in September 2024. Parliament formally accepted his resignation on Sept. 4, with 243 lawmakers voting in favor.

Four days later, Zelenskyy appointed him strategic adviser.

The transition allowed Kamyshin to remain involved in strategic policy while moving out of a cabinet-level ministerial position.

Defense production became a central part of his public role

Kamyshin has been closely associated with Ukraine’s efforts to expand its domestic defense-production base.

During his period in government, Kyiv sought to increase production of drones, artillery ammunition and other military equipment while encouraging foreign partners to finance or jointly manufacture Ukrainian-designed systems.

Reuters reported in 2024 that Ukraine was rapidly increasing deliveries of domestically produced drones to its armed forces as Kyiv looked for ways to offset Russian advantages in manpower and artillery. Kamyshin, then strategic industries minister, said the defense sector had become an increasingly important contributor to Ukraine’s economy.

International cooperation has also become increasingly important to Kyiv’s defense strategy, with Ukrainian officials seeking deeper integration between domestic manufacturers and European and U.S. defense companies.

Kamyshin’s latest statement indicates that international investment and partnerships will remain central to his work after leaving the presidential advisory post.

No new official position announced

Neither the Aug. 31 presidential decree nor Kamyshin’s public statement identifies a new government role for him.

The immediate significance of the decree is therefore limited to the termination of his position as Zelenskyy’s external adviser on strategic issues.

Kamyshin has made clear, however, that he intends to continue working within the broader Ukrainian defense ecosystem.

His stated focus on attracting investment into Ukrainian miltech could keep him involved in one of the government’s most important wartime economic and security priorities.

The presidential administration has not publicly explained why the advisory arrangement ended or whether the position will be filled by another official.

For now, Kamyshin’s departure represents a personnel change within Zelenskyy’s advisory structure rather than an announced withdrawal from Ukraine’s defense-industrial efforts.

WiseNewsPress.com