Fedorov's resignation posed a serious challenge for Zelenskyy during the war — media reports
The dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov sparked significant public and political outcry and became one of the most difficult challenges for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of the full-scale invasion.
As the Financial Times notes, the decision to dismiss him intensified debates surrounding the Ukrainian government’s performance and sparked a widespread reaction among both politicians and the general public.
Following Defense Minister Fedorov’s dismissal, Zelenskyy spent most of the day in talks with the head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, trying to find a way out of the political crisis that arose after the personnel decision.
The mood
in parliament was “explosive” According to the publication, Fedorov’s resignation laid bare divisions among the military leadership and even within the parliamentary majority, which had previously largely supported Zelenskyy’s personnel decisions.
Deputy Commander of the Air Force Pavlo Yelizarov resigned in protest, calling Fedorov’s dismissal “a great harm to the country’s defense capabilities.”
In addition, a lawmaker from the president’s party also resigned his seat and publicly backed Fedorov. This is likely Mykyta Poturaev, who announced the early termination of his parliamentary mandate prior to the vote on the new prime minister.
As the FT notes, lawmakers from the ruling party described the atmosphere in parliament as “explosive.”
Fedorov has become Zelenskyy’s sharpest critic among government officials
The publication notes that Fedorov has become one of the president’s sharpest critics among high-ranking officials during wartime.
In particular, he stated that Ukrainians took to the streets “not specifically to support Zelenskyy,” but because, in his view, the country had strayed from the principles that had previously guided its development.
In addition, Fedorov publicly criticized the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, accusing him of blocking initiatives and being unable to resolve systemic problems.
According to FT sources—including representatives of the defense industry, Ukrainian officials, and members of parliament—Fedorov was an obstacle to those seeking to profit from Ukraine’s multibillion-dollar defense budget.
This is reported by the Financial Times.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov lost his position due to a conflict with Syrskyi.
Fedorov cited the reform of the military and mobilization as the main mistake.
