Zelenskyy removes defense minister known for Ukraine’s drone push
Mykhailo Fedorov’s exit comes amid a cabinet reshuffle and follows new drone and air-defense production deals for Ukraine.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a prominent advocate of drone warfare and defense technology, NPR reported. The move matters because Fedorov had become closely associated with Ukraine’s efforts to expand battlefield innovation during Russia’s invasion.
Fedorov had led the Defense Ministry for six months, according to NPR. His departure is part of a broader government shake-up that has also changed the top of the cabinet.
Ukraine’s parliament has approved Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, NPR reported. Koretskyi previously served as chief executive of Naftogaz, Ukraine’s largest oil and gas company. Lawmakers still need to sign off on the next defense minister.
The timing drew attention because Fedorov’s removal came hours after Ukraine signed agreements with the European Union aimed at increasing drone production, according to NPR. NPR also reported that President Donald Trump agreed at a NATO summit in Turkey last week to let Ukraine produce missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot air-defense system, which Kyiv uses against Russian ballistic missiles.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Fedorov defended his record and said his team had made progress in a short period. He also said he had received supportive messages from other defense ministers and technology executives, including Palantir’s Alex Karp, who offered him a job that Fedorov said he declined.
“I don’t need to be Minister of Defense just to be Minister of Defense,” Fedorov said, according to NPR. “I need this position so we can win this war.”
NPR reported that Zelenskyy’s office did not immediately comment on the decision. Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker from Zelenskyy’s party, told NPR that the president dismissed Fedorov because the 35-year-old minister had disputes with more traditional military commanders and because of contentious changes tied to military conscription.
Fedorov previously ran Ukraine’s digital transformation ministry, according to NPR. As defense minister, he pushed arms-procurement transparency measures and promoted wider use of Ukraine’s drone capabilities.
NPR reported that Ukraine’s battlefield position improved sharply during Fedorov’s time at the ministry, including through greater use of advanced drones. The country’s defense industry accounts for at least 30% of Ukraine’s gross domestic product, and defense technology is its fastest-growing industry, according to NPR.
Fedorov backed mid-range drone attacks intended to interfere with Russian military logistics in Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian territory, NPR reported. NPR also reported that he persuaded Elon Musk to disable Starlink terminals being used by Russian forces.
Ihor Fedirko, head of the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, credited Fedorov with changing how Ukraine fights. “One of the faces of the modern and technological war it’s Mykhailo Fedorov,” Fedirko told NPR. “He totally changed the rules. He’s not afraid to take some risk or responsibility.”
Zelenskyy is expected to nominate Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to replace Fedorov, according to NPR. Klymenko is a former police general, and the Interior Ministry oversees units in Ukraine’s National Guard.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.