Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has triggered widespread criticism and significant unrest within Ukrainian civil society. The decision, which follows a broader cabinet revamp, became the subject of intense speculation and public debate as news surfaced on Sunday.
Fedorov, a figure highly respected among the public, confirmed his departure via social media, stating that serving the Ukrainian people as Defence Minister was a great honour.
Reflecting on his six-month tenure, Fedorov highlighted both achievements and shortcomings. Among his successes, he cited the disruption of Starlink systems for Russian forces, operations targeting Russian logistics in occupied Crimea, and the implementation of what he described as an unpopular but vital military reform initiative.
Despite these efforts, Fedorov admitted he failed to fully complete the organizational transformation of the Ministry of Defence to align with NATO standards and common sense.
He acknowledged that while a new structure is in place and redundant roles have been cut, he should have been more decisive in removing those hindering progress.
The dismissal is widely attributed to ongoing friction between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Reports suggest the conflict stemmed from a generational divide, pitting Fedorov, an innovative manager with a startup background, against a more traditional military general.
Zelenskyy reportedly confirmed the clash during a meeting with his Servant of the People party faction, noting that while ideally both should be dismissed, such a move was not currently feasible.
The president’s decision was reportedly heavily influenced by pressing concerns regarding military recruitment, a key challenge discussed during a meeting on Wednesday between Zelenskyy, Fedorov, and Syrskyi.
Earlier, Zelenskyy had declined to comment on the potential dismissal, emphasizing only his desire for the military and the ministry to be on the same page. He underscored that the current priorities include improving dialogue between the army and the Defence Ministry, addressing recruitment issues, and closing the sky.
Following the announcement, calls emerged on social media for peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv to protest constant government reshuffles and the replacement of effective ministers with more convenient political figures.
Fedorov, who previously served as the minister of digital transformation from 2019 until January 2026, is credited with spearheading the country’s state within a smartphone strategy and the Diia app. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, his work expanded to include drone development and education reforms, alongside a project linking the digital and defence ministries to enhance military technology.
His most recent efforts included the campaign to isolate Russian forces in Crimea by targeting their logistics.
Ihor Klymenko, the current Interior Minister, is expected to replace Fedorov, pending support from the Ukrainian parliament. Klymenko previously led the National Police from 2019 to 2023 before succeeding the late Denys Monastyrsky. Fedorov concluded his tenure by expressing gratitude to his team and those defending Ukraine, stating his intent to continue working toward his original mission of defeating the enemy through innovation, asymmetry, and organizational strength.
"Thank you to my entire team for their effective service 24/7," he said.
