Why Zelenskyy Dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov: Ukraine's Wartime Cabinet Reshuffle Explained

The New York Times profiled him as "forging the future of war" with AI and autonomous systems , and his appointment as defense minister in January 2026 was seen as a declaration that drone warfare was the foundation of Ukraine's defense strategy .

Four reasons Fedorov was dismissed

Multiple sources converge on four key reasons:

• Strategic conflict with the military brass. Zelensky told lawmakers that Fedorov and Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi "did not see the war the same way" and that Fedorov was not coordinating state purchases with the General Staff . Generals openly criticized Fedorov's Silicon Valley-style presentations and his approach to missile and ammunition procurement .
• Failure to reform military enlistment offices (TCC). Zelensky's main stated rationale for replacing Fedorov with Klymenko was his belief that the interior minister could successfully reform the Territorial Recruitment Centers — a reform Fedorov had failed to deliver .
• Procurement and audit tensions. Fedorov began his tenure with an audit that uncovered about $7.2 billion in defense overspending, which put him at odds with vested interests inside the military bureaucracy .
• Part of a broader political reset. Zelensky framed the entire reshuffle — replacing the PM, the defense minister, and other cabinet posts — as necessary to deliver a "new political strategy" for the country amid grinding war .

The broader cabinet reshuffle

Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister. Zelensky dismissed PM Yulia Svyrydenko on July 12 and nominated Serhii Koretskyi, the CEO of state energy giant Naftogaz, as her replacement . Zelensky called Koretskyi "the most prepared person" for the role and formally submitted the nomination to parliament on July 15 . Koretskyi is expected to outline a new government's priorities, with some ministers (Shmyhal, Berezhna) likely staying on .

Ihor Klymenko as defense minister. Multiple lawmakers confirmed on July 15 that Zelensky will nominate Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to replace Fedorov . Klymenko, a career police and security official who has headed the Interior Ministry since 2023, is seen as a figure who can enforce institutional reforms and improve coordination with the General Staff — but his appointment has drawn criticism from civil society and international allies who valued Fedorov's reformist, tech-driven approach .

Timing and risk. The reshuffle comes as Russian attacks continue across the front line and as Western allies question Ukraine's internal governance. The Guardian reported that Fedorov's dismissal "sparked outrage among his supporters" and that international allies and civil society had called for him to stay .