Mykhailo Fedorov told journalists that he would only accept the post of Defence Minister. According to him, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had offered him alternative positions, but Fedorov declined because he does not understand the reasons for his dismissal from the Ministry of Defence and considers other roles insufficient to implement his strategy of deterring Russia.
Briefly about the main points
- Fedorov stated that he would only accept the post of Defence Minister.
- Zelenskyy had offered him alternative roles, but the details of these were not disclosed.
- Fedorov does not understand the reasons for his dismissal from the Ministry of Defence.
- He links the implementation of his strategy to the powers of the Ministry of Defence.
- Yevhen Khmara is temporarily heading the Ministry of Defence.
Fedorov’s position on future work
Fedorov named the president, the defence minister and the commander-in-chief as the three positions which, in his view, alongside the troops on the battlefield, actually determine the course of the war. He emphasised that he would not accept any other post apart from that of head of the defence ministry.
This is Fedorov’s own assessment, not a legal description of the management system. The Minister of Defence is responsible for policy-making and the civilian management of the ministry, whilst the operational military command has a separate set of powers.
Why did he reject the alternative roles?
According to Fedorov, he does not understand the reasons for his dismissal from the Ministry of Defence. The President offered him alternative posts, but Fyodorov turned them down. The official list of these offers was not made public.
The former minister believes that without the effective means of influence available specifically to the Ministry of Defence, it is impossible to implement his strategy of deterring Russia. This refers to his own vision of the conditions under which he would work, rather than to the announcement of a personnel decision that has been taken.
The agency is operating on a transitional basis
Fedorov had been head of the Ministry of Defence since 14 January 2026, when the Verkhovna Rada appointed him by 277 votes. Following personnel changes in the Cabinet of Ministers on 16 July, parliament adopted a resolution on the formation of a new government and the dismissal of members of the outgoing government.
From 17 July, the government appointed as acting Minister of Defence Yevheniia Khmaru. As of 23 July, the post of permanent head of the ministry is formally vacant, and no official announcement has been made regarding the candidate for the new minister or the timeline for their nomination to the Verkhovna Rada.
What will happen to the announced changes in the defence sector?
During his time at the Ministry of Defence, Fedorov publicly linked his programme to technological modernisation, equipping brigades with drones, the digitalisation of mobilisation processes, anti-corruption measures and cooperation with partners. In June, the ministry also announced the launch of the first phase of the Defence Forces’ transformation.
The resignation came less than seven months after Fedorov’s appointment. This may complicate the implementation of the management changes that have already been announced, but how they actually play out will depend on the decisions of the interim leadership, the new government and the future permanent minister.
On 16 July, Zelenskyy stated that Fyodorov would remain in his team, though he did not specify the exact nature of his future role at the time. Fyodorov’s latest statement narrows down his public position to a single post — that of Minister of Defence.
