Zelenskyy dismisses popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov in government reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the popular, tech-focused Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on July 15, 2026, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle that included the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Fedorov, a 35-year-old reformer credited with advancing Ukraine's drone warfare and cutting Russian Starlink access, clashed with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi over military reforms. Zelenskyy reportedly cited Fedorov's failure to resolve critical troop mobilization challenges as the primary reason for his ouster. The decision has sparked intense public backlash and planned protests in Kyiv, with critics calling the dismissal of the effective minister a fatal mistake.

Fedorov dismissal from defense ministry

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as Ukraine's defense minister on July 15, 2026
• ▪Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed his dismissal as defense minister in social media posts on July 15, 2026, after serving six months in the post

Military command conflicts

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly stated at a Servant of the People party meeting that he could not choose between Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi
• ▪Mykhailo Fedorov clashed with Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and other senior generals over military reform proposals and technological strategies

Mobilization reform failures

• ▪Mykhailo Fedorov launched a military service reform in June 2026 to increase frontline pay, allow more foreign volunteers, and ease the return of draft dodgers
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited Mykhailo Fedorov's failure to successfully implement military mobilization reforms as a key reason for his dismissal

Fedorov's technological military reforms

• ▪Mykhailo Fedorov led campaigns to disable Starlink systems for Russian forces and target Russian logistics in occupied Crimea using long-range drones
• ▪Mykhailo Fedorov established the Brave1 program, nicknamed the 'Amazon of Weapons', which allowed Ukrainian soldiers to purchase weapons directly on a website

Political protests against dismissal

• ▪Ukrainian military volunteer Maria Berlinska and opposition politician Iryna Gerashchenko publicly condemned the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov
• ▪Supporters of Mykhailo Fedorov planned a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv on July 16, 2026, to protest the frequent government reshuffles

Ukraine government reshuffle

• ▪The Ukrainian parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on July 14, 2026, triggering a broader cabinet resignation
• ▪Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is expected to be nominated to replace Mykhailo Fedorov as Ukraine's defense minister