Mykhailo Fedorov
Михайло Федоров · also Fedorov, Федоров
Ukraine's former digital transformation minister who became defence minister in January 2026; his removal in July set off rallies demanding his return, and on August 18 he called for a mechanism to hold wartime elections.
Fedorov was minister of digital transformation, known as a reformer, and had no military background when he became defence minister in January 2026. Al Jazeera reported that he gave Zelensky a list of problems including chaotic management, constant rotation of commanders and resistance to reform from the General Staff, and his conflict with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi became increasingly public.
He was removed in a cabinet reshuffle in mid-July 2026. From July 16, rallies in Kyiv and other cities demanded his reinstatement and Syrskyi's removal; Zelensky dismissed Syrskyi on July 21. On August 18, the day the president nominated Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, Fedorov released a video saying Ukraine faced a governance crisis and calling for a legal, safe and realistic mechanism to restore the democratic process even in wartime.
Sources
- Has Ukraine’s Zelenskyy created a rival by sacking his defence minister? (Al Jazeera, accessed 2026-10-26)
- Protests spread across Ukraine against the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (Meduza, accessed 2026-10-26)
- Zelensky dismisses Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi after widespread protests, appoints Drapatyi (The Kyiv Independent, accessed 2026-10-26)
- Fedorov publishes video address on corruption, governance crisis and Ukraine “we must build” (LB.ua, accessed 2026-10-26)
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Last updated 2026-10-26 · Suggest a correction