Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Ukraine’s popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of a wide-ranging government reshuffle that has also seen the prime minister resign.
Fedorov, 35, announced his departure on Telegram, calling it a “great honour” to serve the Ukrainian people. He was widely credited with transforming the defence ministry and reducing corruption during his six months in office – a period that coincided with a dramatic improvement on the battlefield, including drone strikes on Russian oil refineries that embarrassed Vladimir Putin and caused nationwide fuel shortages.
“Zelenskyy dismisses popular defence minister Fedorov despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society.”
In his farewell message, Fedorov listed his achievements: disabling Elon Musk’s Starlink for Russian troops, procuring more drones to destroy “enemy logistics” and isolate occupied Crimea, and “radically improving” the procurement system to save the state budget “billions of dollars”. On the day of his departure, he revealed Ukraine had successfully tested a ballistic missile, saying: “We fundamentally revised the technical requirements and achieved maximum accuracy. We reduced the cost by 30%. Ukraine will enter a new league.”
But Fedorov’s reformist approach clashed with Ukraine’s commander in chief, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. An MP from the ruling Servant of the People party, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the reasons for the dismissal were “obvious: conflict with army command and failed military mobilization reform”, adding: “Fedorov did only an imitation of reforms, just slides.” Yaroslav Zhelezhyak, an MP from the opposition Holos party, wrote on Facebook that Zelenskyy had told him “he cannot choose between Fedorov and Syrskyi, and said Fedorov was the one who failed mobilization reform”. Zhelezhyak described the decision as “stupid and unfair”.
The removal has outraged Fedorov’s supporters. “This a fatal mistake that will cost us dearly,” a prominent Ukrainian military volunteer said. Serhii Sternenko, an aide to the sacked minister, wrote bitterly: “It is a pity our country today is significantly further from victory. Real reforms have not even been allowed to begin, although we have still managed to bring about a great deal of change.” He complained of “deliberate delays” and “bureaucratic obstacles”. Opposition MP Iryna Gerashchenko asked in parliament before the news was confirmed: “How is it that Zelenskyy’s only sensible appointment, Minister Fedorov, is in limbo today?” Thousands posted messages backing Fedorov online.
It is unclear whether Fedorov will get another cabinet post. The reshuffle follows the resignation of prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko earlier this week, with Serhiy Koretskyi, head of energy company Naftogaz, tipped as her replacement. Zelenskyy has said his government needs a reset.