I am loathe to criticize President Zelensky. For fifty months he has led his nation in the face of what appeared to be overwhelming odds to the gates of victory. The awesome task of leading a nation in war should not be underestimated. There are millions of people with complicated problems who all think they should have consideration. There are politicians, generals, academics, engineers, economists and worst of all investors who all play a part in creating the paths already trodden. The lessons were learned; corruption was reduced and punished. The military was tempered in battle, and political experts learned a new trade. The military war is being won, the politics continue to be a struggle. Even at this late date everything can collapse on a single vital mistake.
Great leaders be they politicians, CEOs or generals all understand the value of having at least one man close by their sides who will tell them when they are wrong. When Alistair McAlpine the former head of British Steel, wrote The New Machiavelli he referred to such colleagues as ‘Loyal Lieutenants.’ These employees are absolutely essential to men and women of power. They will frustrate and annoy, but they will always be honest. Only poor leaders surround themselves with ‘yes men’ and good news.
That said, nothing caused more anger among Ukrainians than the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister. Rumours abound at the highest levels of the Ukraine government that President Zelensky’s government reshuffle was perpetrated for the sole purpose of removing Fedarov. There was no discussion in parliament and no vote when Fedarov was officially removed ‘Because he and Syrsky have different visions of war’ (RBC Ukraine).
No one in Ukraine believed this.
Conspiracy theories began circulating online claiming the entire government reshuffle had been orchestrated to remove the defence minister. The argument was, parliament would never vote directly to dismiss Fedorov, and society would not accept such a decision. Fedarov is held in high esteem by the public, the government and war veterans alike. There have been public protests in Kyiv and Lviv. These are likely to affect public confidence in Ukraine at a crucial moment.
Mykhailo Fedorov is the youngest minister in the Ukraine government, he was the first to grasp the potential of digitalization. He reformed the cumbersome soviet style bureaucracy to a smartphone system through an application that became a passport and public services centre. Instead of waiting in lines at people could obtain certificates, documents, apply for public services, and pay utility bills within minutes. It was the first case in the world where a smartphone application replaced almost all government documents.
Kyiv News reported:
‘After the Russian invasion, Fedarov took charge of drone procurement and the creation of digital command systems for unmanned platforms, while actively supporting volunteers and military units working in this field. After becoming defence minister, he launched a sweeping effort to digitalize military procurement, strengthen Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities against targets inside Russia, and rapidly expand the army’s drone capabilities.
The results became immediately apparent. Ukraine’s improved battlefield performance in 2026, the large-scale strikes on Russia’s oil industry, and the “wall of drones” on the front line were frequently associated with Fedorov, although observers also acknowledged the tremendous contribution of volunteers, manufacturers, and commanders such as Robert “Madyar” Brovdi and Pavlo “Lazar” Yelizarov, who have actively introduced new technologies into military operations.
Fedorov has also surrounded himself with well-known volunteer leaders and drone warfare practitioners as advisers and close associates. These included Serhii Sternenko, who was among the first to explore the use of interceptor drones against Shahed drones, and Serhii “Flash” Bezkhrestnov, who analyzed downed Russian drones and regularly explained Russian strike tactics on social media. Fedorov also worked closely with prominent innovators and activists such as Roman Sinitsyn and Maria Berlinska.’
Fedarov produced the Ramstein Format which convinced Ukraine’s allies Ukraine could win. He led the testing program for the first Ukrainian ballistic missile and recognised the absolute importance of the new drone war, leading the nation to a manufacturing target of twenty million drones in 2026. One of his greatest achievements was the organisational transformation of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence to NATO standards, despite considerable resistance from those with vested interests and who were unable to adapt. Federov instigated the cutting of Starlink to Russian front-line forces in 2025 which cut all real time communications within Russian front-line troops. A situation Russia has still not recovered from.
Many of those he upset during these changes retain positions of influence and still have links, to those at the top. There were rumours of a conflict between Fedarov and Commander- in-Chief General Syrsky concerning Fedarov’s concentration on drone technology to the detriment of other military requirements. Such disagreements are common among politicians and military leaders especially in times of war, but they should be ironed out in strict confidence with the President.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence controls a huge budget. Fedorov’s desire to digitalize procurement and make tenders fully transparent hurt a lot of people who were accustomed to skimming off the cream for themselves. This is why Federov’s dismissal has triggered an explosion of public outrage. While carrying out President Zelensky’s popular demands for integrity and efficiency, Fedarov has exposed deeper levels of corruption left over from generations of Soviet style management.
The loss of this man could undermine Ukraine’s innovative and technological advantages just as they are having their greatest effect on the war. People’s representatives from the Servant of the People Party declared they would not support replacing Fedarov.
Chairman of the Public Council at the Ministry of Defence Yurii Hudymenko wrote:
“I honestly struggle to think of anything inside the Ministry of Defence that is not currently being reformed. Everything is changing. Procurement reform, anti-corruption policy, personnel policy – and we were even involved in reforming the military forestry system! It got to that point. Everything is being transformed. This is the worst possible moment to replace the defence minister because all of these reforms are happening right now – they are at their peak.”
The only people who seem to think this is a good idea are the Russians, who can recognise a screw up in Kyiv even if they can’t see the same at home. Russian bloggers referred to Fedarov’s dismissal as ‘Excellent news.’
It is becoming increasingly clear that removing Fedorov – a figure widely regarded as a symbol of success and, in many ways, a role model for younger Ukrainians – is deeply unpopular. Serving soldiers who have benefitted from Fedarov’s leadership have also expressed their opposition to his removal.
Great leaders have great responsibilities, great demands and are constantly forced to decide the lesser of two evils. They also need that loyal lieutenant to tell them when they have got it wrong. President Zelensky realising the gravity of the situation, removed Syrsky and offered Fedarov a new position, which was declined.
It is now too late for Zelensky to reconsider or withdraw, the damage is done. He has to live with it. Fedarov was one of Ukraine’s and Zelensky’s greatest assets. Fedarov is now a political adversary and that is not good for anyone – except Russia!
On 19th August, Fedarov called for wartime elections. It would be a mistake to allow elections or change leaders just as Ukraine is achieving dominance and momentum on the battlefield. Elections open a huge door for Russian interference.
As Ukraine gets closer to winning the military war, it might lose the politics. If Zelensky bows to public pressure and calls an election it would not be good for Ukraine.
Fedarov might make a good President, but he does not have the friends abroad that Zelensky has spent years developing. The change would set Ukraine back a long way.
Slava Ukraini!
I write to fight.
Robin Horsfall
In my humble opinion, having previously lived and worked in Ukraine, a spot-on assessment of the situation Zelensky is faced with. Indeed, how it is dealt could well shape the fate of the country....
Not sure if I’ve already posted this comment but . . . May 1945 Churchill was celebrating Victory in Europe. 8 weeks later, whilst British Commonwealth forces were still heavily involved in bloody battles against Japan in the far East, Churchill lost an election by a landslide. A strong democracy survives the fickleness of politics.