THE FEDOROV CHAPTER IS OVER: ZELENSKYY CLOSES THE DOOR ON THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SHAKE-UP
According to RBC-Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has closed the discussion over Ukraine’s Defense Ministry leadership.
The debate over Mykhailo Fedorov’s future is over.
The ministry will continue under Khmara, and Zelensky will not return Fedorov to the post
For weeks, the issue dominated political discussion inside Ukraine. Fedorov publicly stated that he would only remain in government if he could continue serving as Minister of Defence, arguing that only the ministry had the authority needed to complete reforms, tackle corruption in procurement, and continue transforming Ukraine’s armed forces.
Zelensky, however, had a different assessment.
In his recent interview with Sky News, the president explained that the decision was not about personalities—it was about unity.
He revealed there had been months of serious coordination problems between the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff.
“I had a serious problem—not over days or weeks, but over months—regarding cooperation and coordination between the Chief of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence.”
Zelensky said Ukraine cannot afford internal divisions while preparing for what could be another brutal winter and the possibility of hundreds of thousands of additional Russian troops entering the war.
He identified mobilization and air defense as the two issues demanding complete cooperation.
“I don’t have time to listen to one side and then the other. These two sides must meet not just every day, but every hour.”
The reshuffle also followed the departure of General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief, with Mykhailo Drapatyi taking over the role.
The two departures were very different in tone.
Syrskyi handed over command publicly, thanked the Armed Forces, wished his successor success, and described the transition as the beginning of a “new stage” for Ukraine’s military.
Fedorov, by contrast, made clear he believed he should remain Defence Minister and publicly declined other positions offered to him, arguing that only from the ministry could he finish the reforms his team had begun.
Both men leave behind significant legacies.
Syrskyi oversaw Ukraine through some of the war’s most difficult periods, while Fedorov played a central role in accelerating military innovation, drone development, procurement reform, and the modernization of the Ministry of Defence.
With Zelensky now declaring the matter settled, Ukraine’s leadership is signaling that the debate is over. As Russia intensifies missile attacks and prepares for another phase of the war, Kyiv wants the focus to return where it believes it belongs—not on political appointments, but on defending the country and winning the war. 🇺🇦