Zelenskyy Replaces Defence Minister, Names Interim Successor

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and appointed Yevhen Khmara, former head of the state security service Alpha unit, as interim replacement. Fedorov had held the post since January. Fedorov, 35, previously served as minister of digital transformation.

He introduced competitive tendering for military procurement, expanded Ukraine’s drone programme and persuaded Elon Musk to block unauthorised Russian use of Starlink terminals on the battlefield earlier this year. The dismissal followed open disagreement with military chief of staff Oleksandr Syrski, 60, a graduate of the Moscow higher combined arms command school who began his career as an artillery officer.

Fedorov told a press conference that Syrski had blocked his initiatives and refused face-to-face discussion of problems.

“Instead of finding a way of defeating Russia asymmetrically, he’s found a way of splitting our country,” Fedorov said. Zelenskyy, speaking at a joint press conference with Keir Starmer, said he wanted unity rather than a choice between sides. The appointment marks the fifth change of defence minister in as many years.

Khmara’s selection signals that emphasis on long-range drone strikes will continue. Zelenskyy has asked him to advance several of Fedorov’s reform programmes. Demonstrations against the dismissal took place in Kyiv for a second day.