Fedorov stated that Ukraine is gradually losing the war
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that Ukraine is gradually losing its advantage in the war and has only a few months to make important changes. In his view, the country lacks a clear plan for victory, and bureaucracy, corruption, and poor implementation of new technologies are preventing it from realizing its full potential. At the same time, Fedorov believes that Ukraine still has the opportunity to turn the situation around.
The former defense minister stated that Ukraine has now reached a moment that could determine the future course of the war. According to him, the main problem lies not only in resources but also in the lack of a shared vision of exactly how Ukraine is supposed to win. “I think we’ve reached a turning point that will determine our future trajectory, but it seems we’re gradually, slowly losing,” Fedorov said.
He believes that Kyiv has a few months to make a decision and change its approach to waging the war. At the same time, the former minister emphasized that Ukraine still has a chance to win. However, in his view, this requires a clear plan to end the war and a concrete understanding of how to implement it.
Fedorov Criticizes the Lack of Innovation
The former minister identified the state’s inability to implement new technologies quickly enough as one of the main problems. According to him, technologies capable of significantly changing the situation on the battlefield already exist. However, Ukraine is not using them on the necessary scale. Fedorov proposes creating a dense network of electronic sensors along the front lines. These should help detect Russian troops and military equipment.
At the same time, according to his plan, the use of drones on the ground and in the air should be expanded as much as possible. This should reduce the need for a direct human presence in areas where technology can replace personnel. “The technologies that can completely stop the Russians already exist, but our lack of vision means we aren’t using them,” said the former defense minister. In his view, the future of war will largely depend on which side can more quickly automate the process of detecting and engaging targets.
Fedorov spoke of the state’s wasted potential
Separately, the former minister criticized the performance of the state apparatus. He stated that Ukraine is far from fully utilizing its capabilities. According to Fedorov, the state system’s current efficiency is only about 5% of what it could achieve. He also cited corruption, informal networks of influence, and the lack of political independence among state institutions as problems.
In Fedorov’s view, these factors hinder not only reforms but also military innovation. As a result, the technology may exist, but the state is unable to transform it into a functioning system quickly enough. The former minister also emphasized that Ukraine needs to respond more quickly to changes on the battlefield. Russia is constantly adapting its tactics, so it is not enough to simply repeat already known solutions.
The Office of the President Responded to Fedorov
The Office of the President responded to the former defense minister’s statements. Officials there noted that during his tenure as minister, Fedorov had a different vision for the country’s development and the defense sector.
Thus, the Office of the President cast doubt on his current assessment of the situation, pointing out that Fedorov himself was previously part of the very system he is now criticizing. At the same time, the Office of the President did not provide a detailed response to each of the former minister’s arguments.
What Fedorov Proposes
Fedorov is essentially proposing to rely on a technological model of warfare. According to his plan, people should spend less and less time directly in dangerous zones, while surveillance systems, drones, and automated systems will handle most of the work. This involves creating a kind of network that will constantly monitor the battlefield and transmit data for further response.
According to the former minister, this would not only reduce military casualties but also allow for a faster response to actions by Russian units. At the same time, Fedorov acknowledges that technology alone is not enough. What is needed are decisions at the state level, rapid funding, transparent rules, and a willingness on the part of the command to change its approaches.
His assessment of the situation remains the personal opinion of the former defense minister. However, it attracted attention due to a blunt statement that Ukraine is allegedly “gradually, slowly losing” and has limited time to turn the situation around. Mykhailo Fedorov spoke about this in an interview with Reuters.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that he does not rule out running in the upcoming presidential election.
