Zelenskyy sacks popular defence minister despite Western backing

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as part of a wider government reshuffle that has drawn sharp criticism from foreign partners and domestic reformers. Fedorov, 35, announced his departure on Telegram, calling it a “great honour” to serve.

His removal comes at a critical juncture for European security. During his six months in office, Ukraine’s military position improved dramatically through long-range drone strikes that hit Russian oil refineries. These attacks embarrassed Vladimir Putin and created nationwide fuel shortages in Russia, disrupting supplies from a major energy supplier to the continent.

Fedorov highlighted his record on his way out, noting he disabled Starlink for Russian forces and procured drones that destroyed “enemy logistics” and isolated occupied Crimea. He claimed to have “radically improved” the procurement system, saving the state budget “billions of dollars”.

On his final day, he announced Ukraine had successfully tested a ballistic missile. “We fundamentally revised the technical requirements and achieved maximum accuracy. We reduced the cost by 30%. Ukraine will enter a new league,” he said.

The dismissal is part of a broader administrative reset. Ukraine’s parliament recently accepted the resignation of prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko, with Serhiy Koretskyi, head of the energy company Naftogaz, tipped to replace her. It remains unclear whether Fedorov will receive another cabinet role.

The decision has sparked domestic outrage and rumours of a feud with Commander-in-Chief Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Moscow, publicly urged Zelenskyy to retain the minister.

Opposition politician Iryna Gerashchenko condemned the move in parliament, asking: “How is it that Zelenskyy’s only sensible appointment, Minister Fedorov, is in limbo today?” Serhii Sternenko, an aide to Fedorov, wrote bitterly of “deliberate delays” and “bureaucratic obstacles”, adding: “It is a pity our country today is significantly further from victory. Real reforms have not even been allowed to begin, although we have still managed to bring about a great deal of change.”

Artem Bronzhukov of the Politika thinktank told Radio NV that the rapid turnover of defence ministers is “abnormal” during a large-scale war. He noted Fedorov visibly improved the frontline in three or four months, turning the Crimean peninsula into a “virtual island”, and held strong backing from Western partners.