Mykhailo Fedorov dismissed

Fedorov confirmed that he is at odds with the General. “Syrskyi, considering all the problems we have discussed today, is not ready to talk about these problems personally, face to face.” Furthermore, all initiatives proposed by the former minister were reportedly blocked by the General. “If we want to win asymmetrically, with minimal losses, we should change the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the General Staff,” Fedorov told journalists.

According to the former minister, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet fully sided with General Syrskyi in this conflict. “I think the President hears the Ukrainian people. And I hope that this situation will be rectified.” The President reportedly offered Fedorov an advisory position, which the former minister did not accept.

Fedorov’s dismissal met with a firm response from Ukrainian citizens. Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv, protesting against the President’s decision. Demands were made for Fedorov’s reinstatement and the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi. The Minister enjoyed a reputation as a politician who fought corruption and modernised the Ukrainian army.

According to reports from the Ukrainska Pravda portal, the candidacy of Ihor Klymenko, currently the acting Minister of Internal Affairs, is to be submitted for the post of Minister of Defence. Fedorov is expected to remain in the President’s inner circle; however, it is not yet known what his role will be.

Mykhailo Fedorov became Ukraine’s Minister of Defence on 14 January 2026. He was considered one of President Zelenskyy’s closest associates. He contributed to the reform and modernisation of the Ukrainian army. He also had a direct role in cutting off Russia’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. Among other achievements of his team, Fedorov listed: launching a support programme for modern drone-assault units that rely primarily on advanced technologies in combat, fundamentally overhauling the procurement system, raising the drone interception rate from 83% to 91% and the cruise missile interception rate from 47% to 87%, and contracting Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T missiles for the first time.