Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has stated that Ukraine is at a turning point in the war and, without rapid systemic changes, risks gradually losing ground. According to him, Kyiv has only a few months to take key decisions capable of turning the situation around. In response, the President’s Office emphasised that Fedorov’s views on the conduct of the war had changed following his dismissal.
Briefly about the main points
- Fedorov stated that Ukraine is gradually losing the war.
- According to him, there are a few months left to turn the situation around.
- The former minister called for an urgent plan to be drawn up to end the war.
- Among the problems, he cited corruption, inefficiency and a lack of innovation.
- Fedorov is banking on AI-powered drones and low-cost interceptors.
- The Presidential Office attributed the change in his rhetoric to a change in his personal status.
Fedorov spoke of a «turning point» in the war
Former Minister of Defence of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov In an interview with Reuters, he stated that the coming months could determine the future course of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
In his view, Ukraine still has the opportunity to turn the situation around, but to do so, a number of strategic decisions must be taken swiftly.
«We are now at a turning point that will determine our future course, but it seems we are gradually losing ground,» said Fyodorov.
At the same time, the former minister emphasised that, in his view, Ukraine, still has every chance of winning, but the state urgently needs an overarching vision of how to bring the war to an end.
Reuters notes that this assessment differs markedly from the official rhetoric of the Ukrainian authorities.
Fedorov outlined Ukraine’s main problems
Among the factors preventing Ukraine from waging war more effectively, Fedorov cited the slow pace of innovation, corruption, networks of political influence and a lack of independence among state institutions.
According to him, the problem lies not only in a lack of resources, but also in the absence of a unified strategy for applying technologies that are already being developed by Ukrainian companies.
Fedorov believes that autonomous drones equipped with artificial intelligence, low-cost interceptor missiles to counter Russian air attacks, and the development of Ukraine’s own ballistic missile programme hold great promise.
He also proposed a concept for the front line that would be as densely equipped as possible with electronic sensors and ground- and air-based drones, which would reduce the number of personnel directly on the front line.
The former minister stated that the necessary technologies already exist, but their potential is not being fully utilised due to the lack of a comprehensive approach.
Ukraine has a «window» of several months
Fedorov also drew attention to the Ukrainian campaign of strikes against Russian fuel and military logistics.
According to him, Ukraine has a few months left, during which such operations can be stepped up and efforts made to cut off occupied Crimea from Russian logistics supplies until Moscow has adapted to the new tactics.
Reuters notes that Ukraine has recently significantly stepped up long-range attacks across Russia. Military facilities and oil refineries were targeted, and damage to the fuel infrastructure caused supply problems in certain regions of the Russian Federation.
At the same time, the situation on the front line remains difficult. Russian troops continue to advance slowly in the Donbas, although the rate at which they are seizing territory is slower than last year. Reuters cites a shortage of interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles as a further problem for Ukraine.
The President’s Office has responded to Fedorov
The President’s Office has responded to the statements made by the former Defence Minister.
In a comment to Reuters, they stated that Whilst working at the Ministry of Defence, Fyodorov took a more positive view of the course of the war, and following his dismissal, it was his own status that changed first and foremost.
«The only thing that has changed is his personal status,» Reuters reports, citing the Office of the President.
Fedorov was dismissed from his post as Minister of Defence after approximately six months in office. During this time, he introduced changes in the areas of defence procurement and mobilisation; however, some of his approaches led to disputes with the military leadership and political opponents.
Fedorov is also calling for elections
The new statement came against the backdrop of the political debate surrounding Fedorov. He had previously been one of the first influential Ukrainian politicians to openly call for holding elections during wartime, attributing this to a systemic crisis in public administration.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy He rejected this idea. He stated that holding an election campaign whilst the war was in full swing could divide the country. At present, Ukrainian law does not provide for the holding of national elections whilst martial law is in force.
Fedorov himself has not yet announced his intention to stand for president. According to him, it is too early to talk about his personal participation in the election.
At the same time, the former minister plans to work on projects in the field of military technology and to attract investment. In particular, he is preparing a trip to the US to seek funding for defence technology projects and Ukrainian start-ups.
