Replacement Ukrainian Minister: Since April, I have been telling Zelensky what is coming

A former Ukrainian defense minister has claimed he was dismissed from his post because he attempted to reform the military procurement system, according to an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine’s largest independent media outlet. Mykhailo Fedorov, who served as defense minister for just six months before being replaced in August, stated that his efforts to introduce transparency into the sector faced strong resistance from powerful interest groups. He described the move as part of a broader restructuring of the government and defense sector, which also saw the replacement of several high-ranking officials. Fedorov explained that the reforms were aimed at addressing systemic issues within the procurement process, including tendering procedures and management structures. “The reason is related to procurement, tenders, and the fact that we started changing processes in this sector,” he said. “This caused great dissatisfaction among many. They then began exerting pressure and spreading negative information, not only toward the president, but throughout the entire media space.” President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Fedorov's removal after only six months in office, replacing him with Yevgeniy Khmara, a former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) known for leading operations deep inside Russian territory. The change is part of a larger overhaul of the government and defense apparatus, which also included the replacement of former deputy prime minister Julia Sviridenko with Sergei Korchev, a former leader of state oil and gas company Naftogaz. Before becoming defense minister, Fedorov led the country’s digital transformation ministry and built a reputation as a key figure in developing Ukraine’s drone technology. His management style, modeled after startup principles, contrasted sharply with traditional political establishment norms, but also generated resistance from parts of the conventional military leadership and other interest groups. “Our task was to resolve the cause of the problem as quickly as possible,” Fedorov said. “First, launch public tenders. Second, restructure the management system within the Ministry of Defense and change the way people are selected, in accordance with the goals we set.” He emphasized that his efforts encountered “pressure from all sides.” While he refused to name specific individuals or groups responsible for opposing him, analysts have pointed to influential figures within the government and political sphere who may have played a role in his removal. Fedorov’s innovative approach and role in using long-range and medium-range drones for attacks on Russian energy and military infrastructure earned him widespread popularity in Ukraine and respect from Western partners. His dismissal sparked protests in Kyiv and several other cities, with demonstrators demanding his return to office. However, these gatherings have weakened over the past two weeks. Zelensky offered Fedorov alternative roles within the government, including the position of deputy prime minister for digital innovation. However, the former minister indicated he would only return to his previous role. Officially, Zelensky cited a prolonged conflict between Fedorov and then Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky as the reason for the dismissal. The president stated he had grown tired of mediating between them due to their inability to cooperate. Fedorov denied there was a personal conflict with Syrsky in the classical sense. “It was more about different visions of how to conduct the war,” he clarified. “But that vision needed to be implemented through concrete reforms, projects, and operations.” Meanwhile, Syrsky himself was removed last week and replaced by 43-year-old Mykhailo Drapaty, a former commander of land forces and joint command, known for his battlefield experience. Public speculation suggests Zelensky viewed Fedorov as a potential political rival, given his rising popularity since his work on the 2019 presidential campaign. “I warned the president back in April: ‘Look, people will start coming and telling you things aren’t right with me, that I have political ambitions, that I own drone companies, that I’ve disrupted some processes, and so on,’” Fedorov recounted. “I asked him to check those pieces of information with me, because I wanted to make sure they were accurate.”