According to an X report, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has resigned as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s latest Cabinet change, which also saw Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s departure.
“It has been a great honor to serve the Ukrainian people as the Minister of Defense,” he wrote.
Reuters reports that the current minister of the interior, Ihor Klymenko, is likely to replace Fedorov in the role. It’s not clear if Fedorov will be taking on a different government role.
Appointed in January 2026 at just 35 years old, Fedorov became the youngest defence minister in Ukraine’s history. He was brought in to modernise the ministry and inject new energy into Ukraine’s war effort, applying the technology-first approach that had defined his earlier work in government. His focus on drone warfare changed the face of the Ukrainian military in reaction to Russia’s use of Shahed-style weapons.
Before taking over the Ministry of Defence, Fedorov changed Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation into one of the country’s most successful government institutions. During the war he became one of the public faces of Ukraine’s technology strategy, using Telegram, X, and other platforms to explain battlefield innovations, highlight Russian equipment losses, and communicate directly with both Ukrainians and international audiences.
As defence minister, Fedorov focused on making the ministry work faster and more efficiently. He pushed through changes to procurement, improved the use of data across the armed forces, and helped expand Ukraine’s domestic drone industry into one of the country’s biggest military advantages. He was also instrumental in securing Starlink connectivity for Ukrainian forces, giving troops reliable communications on the battlefield while restricting Russian access to the system.
In his resignation statement, Fedorov talked about his many successes in office. His departure raises an important turning point for Ukraine’s defence especially considering his digital-forward focus and social media popularity. While the war continues, departures like this one could hinder progress even as Zelensky’s battlefield lead increases.
