Fedorov’s dismissal could put strategically important defence initiatives at risk. This was highlighted by NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub in her comments to The Washington Times.
There is a risk that several key initiatives—primarily related to digitalisation and defence planning—could be delayed or disrupted, including:
- Long-term planning: preparing multi-year contracts and securing guaranteed funding for defence production in 2027;
- International defence partnerships: concluding new agreements under the Drone Deal framework, launching joint production of Ukrainian weapons abroad, and negotiating licensed production of Western defence systems;
- Strategic security: Ukraine’s participation in developing a European anti-ballistic defence system.
According to Olena Tregub, Mykhailo Fedorov had been steadily advancing defence reforms, and his dismissal came at a critical moment for Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. “Given the limited access to information and the realities of an active war, any assessment should be made cautiously. Nevertheless, three clear success stories stand out: data-driven strategic planning, anti-corruption efforts, and cooperation with Elon Musk that resulted in Russian forces losing access to Starlink terminals,” Tregub said.
On 15 July, it became known that Mykhailo Fedorov would be dismissed as Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, just six months after taking office. The decision came amid the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko’s government. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chose not to renominate Fedorov, prompting peaceful protests in a number of Ukrainian cities. Major General Yevheniy Khmara has been appointed Acting Minister of Defence.