President Volodymyr Zelenskiy endorsed the head of Ukraine's state energy company as prime minister on Wednesday and signalled he'll replace his defence minister — a move that's sparked warnings about the cost to Ukraine's war effort as Russia advances in the east. The reshuffle comes as Ukraine enters the fifth year of the war facing critical shortages of air defences and manpower, with Moscow claiming it's on course to achieve its objectives.
Zelenskiy pushed out Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after just a year on the job. Parliament accepted her resignation on Tuesday and is expected to vote on her successor on Thursday. The president has offered little explanation beyond saying he wants to refresh the leadership.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskiy said Sergii Koretskyi, CEO of state-owned Naftogaz, was the best candidate for prime minister because Ukraine's priority was preparing for winter. "The priorities are clear – preparing for winter," Zelenskiy said. "Therefore, following all the consultations, Sergii Koretskyi is surely the most prepared candidate for the post of prime minister of Ukraine."
The Defence Portfolio Fight
Much of the focus was on whether Zelenskiy would keep Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech expert, as defence minister nearly four-and-a-half years into the war. Members of parliament, posting on social media after meeting with the president, said he'd appoint Ihor Klymenko, interior minister since 2023, to take on the defence portfolio. Olha Vasylevska-Smahliuk, from Zelenskiy's ruling Servant of the People party, confirmed Klymenko would be put forward.
It wasn't immediately clear whether another government job would be offered to Fedorov, who during his six-month tenure as defence minister led an ambitious campaign to transform Ukraine's outmanned army into a more efficient fighting force. Some lawmakers said Zelenskiy's decision to replace Fedorov wouldn't help Ukraine's war effort.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and member of Zelenskiy's party, expressed disappointment. "Fedorov… is highly respected amongst our international partners," he said on social media. "His name was associated with hopes for genuine reforms within the Ministry of Defence."
Maria Berlinska, a prominent volunteer and drone warfare advocate, called Fedorov's replacement "one of President Zelenskiy's biggest mistakes." "This decision by the president will not only cost us, it will cost us hugely. The price will be the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of people ... if not more."
What Fedorov Achieved
Fedorov, writing on Telegram, said it had been a "great honour" to serve Ukraine and compiled two sets of objectives — those already achieved, including investments in drones and a revamp of procurements. Others to be completed included "organising the transformation of the Defence Ministry to the standards of NATO and common sense."
Fedorov's attempts to clean up defence procurement have angered parts of the establishment, his supporters say. He's also been criticized by some lawmakers for failing to deliver quickly enough on his pledge to reform recruitment. Previously, as Ukraine's first minister for digital transformation, Fedorov streamlined key state services into a now-ubiquitous app. As defence minister, he's been credited with boosting drone procurement and pursuing a data-driven strategy of exhausting Russian forces.
The Strategic Picture
The episode threatens to further dent public and parliamentary trust in Zelenskiy's wartime leadership, just when Ukraine's fortunes appear to be reversing. Ukraine still faces critical challenges like a shortage of air defences and manpower. Russia says it's on course to achieve its goals in the war, now in its fifth year.
Despite its success, Ukraine lacks U.S.-designed interceptors to shoot down the ballistic missiles that have rained down on major cities like Kyiv in greater numbers. Officials are bracing for another winter of Russian strikes on the power grid. Fedorov's reforms to alleviate the army's manpower shortage remain in progress, while abuse and mismanagement still plague the draft and some military units.
On the battlefield, Russia is grinding toward Ukraine's "fortress belt" of cities in the eastern Donetsk region that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to occupy fully.
Why This Matters:
Ukraine's ability to sustain its defence depends on effective leadership and reform of its military institutions — particularly procurement and recruitment systems that have been plagued by corruption and inefficiency. Fedorov's removal after just six months suggests internal political pressures may be trumping the urgent need for military modernisation at a critical juncture. Europe has invested tens of billions in supporting Ukraine's defence, but that support depends on Kyiv demonstrating it can manage resources effectively and reform its institutions. The timing is particularly concerning: Russia is advancing in the east, Ukraine faces another winter of infrastructure attacks, and manpower shortages remain unresolved. European governments watching this reshuffle will be asking whether their continued financial and military support is being used as effectively as possible — and whether political stability in Kyiv can be maintained as the war enters its fifth year.