Zelenskyy Removes Defence Minister Fedorov in Major Cabinet Overhaul
Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine s popular Defence – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially removed Mykhailo Fedorov from his position as defence minister, marking a significant shift in Kyiv’s leadership structure. The announcement came on Wednesday, with Fedorov himself confirming the development through social media channels. This move represents the latest chapter in Zelenskyy’s ongoing government reshuffle, which has generated considerable public attention and debate.
Since initial reports emerged on Sunday regarding the cabinet changes, Fedorov’s potential removal had become the focal point of speculation. Many observers had criticized the president for considering such a drastic step, given Fedorov’s popularity among Ukrainians. The defence minister was indeed the first to publicly acknowledge the dismissal, sharing his thoughts on social media platforms.
It was a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people as Defence Minister.
Following his confirmation, Fedorov provided a comprehensive assessment of his six-month tenure, highlighting both accomplishments and shortcomings. Among his notable achievements, he cited the successful shutdown of Starlink systems for Russian forces, the ongoing campaign targeting Russian logistics in occupied Crimea, and what he described as an unpopular yet crucial military reform initiative.
Thank you to each and every one of you who is defending Ukraine and working for victory. Thank you to my entire team for their effective service 24/7.
Fedorov also expressed his commitment to continuing his mission, emphasizing his approach to defeating the enemy through asymmetry, rapid innovation, and organizational strength. His departure is expected to be filled by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, a general who previously led the National Police from 2019 until 2023. Klymenko was appointed to his current position following the tragic death of his predecessor, Denys Monastyrsky, and Ukrainian parliament is expected to endorse his nomination for the defence ministry role.
Public Reaction and Military Challenges
The dismissal announcement sparked immediate responses from Ukrainian citizens. Social media platforms saw calls for a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv on Thursday morning, with protesters aiming to express their opposition to what they view as constant governmental reshuffles and the replacement of effective ministers with opportunistic figures.
On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy convened a meeting with both Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi to address pressing military challenges, particularly focusing on mobilisation efforts. According to various reports, recruitment issues emerged as the decisive factor in the president’s decision to remove Fedorov from his position.
The priority is dialogue between the army and the Defence Ministry, solving the problems of (recruitment), and closing the sky.
Earlier on the same day, Zelenskyy had declined to provide specific details about Fedorov’s potential dismissal, instead emphasizing his desire for military unity and alignment. The friction between Fedorov and Syrskyi had been building over Fedorov’s military reform proposals, particularly concerning Defence Ministry operations. This dispute has been characterized as a generational clash between a young, innovative manager with startup experience and a more conventional military general.
Fedorov’s Broader Career and Legacy
Before his appointment as defence minister, Fedorov served as Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation from 2019 to January 2026. During this period, he earned widespread recognition for implementing Ukraine’s “state within a smartphone” strategy, which aimed to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. The Diia application, launched in 2020, has since enabled citizens to access numerous government services directly through their mobile devices.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Fedorov’s ministry has played a vital role in drone development and production, alongside education reforms. He also contributed significantly to establishing a project that connects the Digital Transformation Ministry with the Defence Ministry, facilitating advances in military technology. Most recently, he initiated Ukraine’s “turning Crimea into an island” campaign, a highly successful operation targeting Russian logistics and military installations in the Moscow-annexed territory and temporarily occupied southern regions.
Fedorov enjoys considerable respect within Ukrainian civil society, and news of his dismissal triggered an overwhelming wave of criticism directed at Zelenskyy. Ukrainian media reports indicate that the president acknowledged the conflict between Fedorov and Syrskyi during a meeting of his Servant of the People party faction. According to these accounts, Zelenskyy reportedly stated that ideally both officials should be dismissed, though he recognized the complexity of the situation.
