The 41-year-old's appointment marks a significant change for Ukraine more than a year and a half into Russia's invasion, and follows corruption scandals in the defence ministry.

"Rustem Umerov has become the new defence minister. His candidacy was supported by the Verkhovna Rada," Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced on social media referring to Ukraine's parliament.

Senior lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on social media that 338 out of 360 lawmakers present voted in favour of Umerov's nomination.

Zelensky nominated Umerov for the role calling for "new approaches" in Ukraine's defence ministry.

"We expect that the new minister will promptly start work and continue the defense sector reforms that have been initiated," Shmygal added in his social media post.

A former businessman, Umerov has taken part in prisoner exchange negotiations and grain deal talks.

He is active in the Tatar Muslim community of Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

"It is the highest state post ever held by a Tatar (from Crimea)," Sergiy Leshchenko, an advisor to the presidential administration, told AFP.

The Tatar community of Crimea has largely been against Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

Umerov is known to have good contacts with Turkey, speaking fluent Turkish and some Arabic, as well as English.