Maria Berlinska, a prominent volunteer and drone warfare advocate, warned that President Zelenskiy's decision to replace the defence minister would "cost us hugely," impacting "the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of people" as Ukraine enters the fifth year of the war with Russia. This stark human cost underscores the displacement crisis that Europe selectively acknowledges, revealing the structural racism embedded in its border policies. While Europe mobilizes resources and expresses solidarity for those fleeing this conflict, the same compassion is routinely denied to people escaping other wars and crises.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy endorsed Sergii Koretskyi, the head of the state energy company Naftogaz, as Ukraine's new prime minister on Wednesday. Lawmakers indicated plans to replace the defence minister at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict. Zelenskiy had removed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko earlier this week, after just a year in her role. Parliament accepted her resignation on Tuesday and is expected to vote on Koretskyi's appointment on Thursday. Zelenskiy cited a need to "refresh the leadership," stating that preparing for the upcoming winter was Ukraine's immediate priority. He called Koretskyi "the most prepared candidate" for the post.
The Human Cost of Conflict
The reshuffle of Ukraine's leadership comes as the country faces severe challenges, including a shortage of air defences and manpower. Officials are bracing for another winter of Russian strikes on the power grid, a reality that drives internal displacement and pushes people towards Europe's increasingly militarized borders. Fedorov, the outgoing defence minister, had led efforts to transform Ukraine's army and boost drone procurement during his six-month tenure. His attempts to reform defence procurement had reportedly angered parts of the establishment. Some lawmakers criticized him for not delivering quickly enough on recruitment reforms.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed disappointment at Fedorov's removal, noting his high respect among international partners and the "hopes for genuine reforms" associated with his name. Fedorov himself described his service as a "great honour," listing achievements like investments in drones and procurement overhauls. He also outlined objectives such as "organising the transformation of the Defence Ministry to the standards of NATO and common sense." Despite these efforts, Ukraine still lacks U.S.-designed interceptors to counter ballistic missiles raining down on cities like Kyiv. Reforms to alleviate the army's manpower shortage remain in progress, with reports of abuse and mismanagement persisting in the draft and some military units.
Militarization and Europe's Border Regime
The appointment of Ihor Klymenko, interior minister since 2023, to the defence portfolio signals a continued focus on security and internal control. This mirrors the broader European trend of militarizing responses to perceived threats, including the "threat" of migration. While Russia advances towards Ukraine's "fortress belt" of cities in the eastern Donetsk region, Europe simultaneously reinforces its own "Fortress Europe" with fences, biometric databases, and outsourced border control. The war's fifth year highlights the devastating impact of conflict, yet the pathways to safety for those displaced by it remain deeply unequal.
The immediate temporary protection granted to Ukrainians stands in stark contrast to the pushbacks, detention, and criminalisation faced by Syrians, Afghans, Eritreans, and others seeking asylum. This double standard is not incidental; it is a structural feature of Europe's border regime, designed to divide and control. The focus on military efficiency and procurement in Ukraine, while necessary in the context of war, also reflects an expansion of the security apparatus that profits from conflict and border enforcement alike. The price, as Berlinska warned, is measured in "the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of people," a cost that extends far beyond the battlefield to the very gates of Europe.