❗️The Financial Times, citing people close to President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports that Ihor Klymenko is no longer being considered for the post of Ukraine’s defense minister.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi thanked former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for his work and said he hopes Fedorov remains on Ukraine’s team. Syrskyi also said Ukraine must stay focused on the war and an effective strategy. His post drew numerous critical comments calling for his resignation.
Reuters reports that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged €300 million to help equip Ukraine with a squadron of 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Starmer said Britain would work with Sweden to deliver the aircraft to help defend Ukraine against Russian attacks. The pledge was one of his final commitments before leaving office.
❗️Journalist Yuliia Kyriienko reported that President Zelensky’s office is discussing the possible dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and considering potential replacements. The claim remains unconfirmed.
General Mykhailo Drapatyi said Ukraine’s army needs change, but without justice reform will mean nothing to those carrying the war every day. He praised the Defense Ministry’s recent effort to hear commanders, accelerate decisions and support unit-led initiatives, citing the Drone Line project. Drapatyi said commanders must speak openly about problems and argued that defense transformation must co...
Mykhailo Fedorov accused commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi of refusing to discuss problems directly and instead “weaving intrigues behind the scenes.” Fedorov said he accepted President Zelensky’s decision not to dismiss Syrskyi and was prepared to work with him. He credited Syrskyi with helping Ukraine hold in 2022, but argued the war has changed and the military cannot move forward on old met...
Ukraine’s parliament approved a new cabinet lineup, appointing Denys Shmyhal as first deputy prime minister and energy minister. The vote also confirmed appointments across key ministries, including interior, finance, health, education, economy, justice and digital transformation, where Oksana Ferchuk took over. The foreign and defense minister posts remain under discussion.
Zelensky said Mykhailo Fedorov will remain on his team, with his future role to be announced later. Responding to protests, the president said people were right to demonstrate and added that the government has no secrets from society, only from Russia.Zelensky also said Ihor Klymenko is being considered for defense minister, though no nomination has yet been submitted to parliament. He said the ne...
Mykhailo Fedorov said Zelensky offered him an adviser role, but he declined. He said Ukraine needs changes in its military leadership to win with fewer losses, calling for the replacement of Oleksandr Syrskyi and the chief of the General Staff. According to Fedorov, Zelensky said he does not plan to dismiss Syrskyi.Fedorov argued that recruitment centers report to the General Staff rather than the...
Ukraine’s parliament appointed Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, replacing Yuliia Svyrydenko. The appointment received 289 votes. Koretskyi previously led Naftogaz, Ukrnafta, Ukrtatnafta and the WOG fuel station network.
Protest against the dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov have spread to Odesa, Cherkasy, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and many other Ukrainian cities and towns.
Protesters gathered outside Kyiv’s Ivan Franko National Theatre to oppose Fedorov’s resignation. Demonstrators chanted: “Fedorov is the defense minister!” A separate protest was also reported in Dnipro.
Ukrainian Air Force Deputy Commander Pavlo Yelizarov said he has submitted his resignation, saying the decision follows Fedorov’s resignation as defense minister. He added that he joined Ukraine’s Defense Forces in 2022 “to win, not imitate activity.”
Quite shocked by Zelensky’s decision. Fedorov’s removal feels like Ukraine just threw away one of the few reforms that was visibly working. He expanded drones, tightened procurement, challenged corruption, and pushed strikes on Russian logistics. Replacing him now, with no clear public case, is a terrible look.
Ukrainska Pravda sources say Zelensky told his faction that Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has a systemic conflict with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the military. RBC-Ukraine added they hold different views on the war. Zelensky reportedly criticized the ministry for making procurement decisions that did not match requests from the General Staff, including on artillery shells.