Zelenskyy removes Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in cabinet reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister on Wednesday, part of a broader cabinet reshuffle. Fedorov confirmed the move on social media, saying it had been an honour to serve the Ukrainian people and thanking his team for their work.

During his six-month tenure, Fedorov highlighted achievements such as disabling Russian Starlink use, targeting logistics in occupied Crimea and pursuing a controversial military reform. He also noted that the organisational transformation of the defence ministry toward NATO standards remained incomplete.

Zelenskyy held a meeting with Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi to discuss mobilisation and recruitment challenges, which officials said were central to the decision. The president emphasized the need for “dialogue between the army and the Defence Ministry, solving the problems of recruitment, and closing the sky.”

Reports indicate friction between Fedorov and Syrskyi over reform proposals, described as a clash between a younger, tech-focused manager and a traditional military leader. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, a former national police chief, is expected to replace Fedorov pending parliamentary approval.

Social media users called for a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv to protest frequent cabinet changes, arguing that effective ministers are being replaced by “convenient opportunists.”