Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he declined the offer made by President Volodymyr Zelensky to become his adviser after deciding to replace him
Speaking at an emergency briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, July 16, Fedorov said the two had a constructive conversation following the president’s decision to remove him from the position.
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“We had a normal conversation yesterday [July 15]. The president offered me the position of adviser or another way to remain on the team,” Fedorov said.
He said he rejected the proposal, insisting he had never sought public office for its own sake.
“I refused the position of adviser. My goal was never to become a minister, remain a minister, or simply hold a position,” he said.
Fedorov also expressed gratitude toward Zelensky, saying he had always been loyal to the president and proud of what they had achieved together.
“Among the people around the president, I am probably the one who appreciated and respected him the most. I have never let him down. There were no corruption scandals, no schemes,” he said.
He credited their team with building Ukraine’s digital state, launching the Diia and Mriia platforms, reforming the tax system for technology companies, and, after Russia’s full-scale invasion, transforming the country’s defense capabilities.
Fedorov also commented on the resignation of Deputy Air Force Commander Pavlo Yelizarov, who stepped down in protest over Fedorov’s dismissal, saying he hopes the situation will still change.
Senior Air Force Commander Quits, Calls Fedorov’s Dismissal ‘Great Evil’
He addressed demonstrations that erupted in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and other cities, where thousands of people protested against his removal.
“The defense minister is the president’s appointment. But the people who came out today did not come out for Minister Fedorov. They came out for themselves,” he said.
According to Fedorov, Ukrainians are concerned that the military reforms launched over the past six months could be reversed.
“People saw hope that we had begun to seize the initiative on the battlefield and in the sky. Now there is a risk that this trajectory will be broken. That is what people came out to defend,” he said.
Fedorov said he plans to discuss his future with Zelensky once again.
He reiterated that his disagreement was never about holding office but about the conditions needed to win the war.
“I don’t need the position of defense minister for its own sake. I need it to help Ukraine win the war. In the current system, I personally don’t know how to achieve that.”
Clashes with Ukraine’s military top brass
Fedorov also publicly accused Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky of blocking military reforms and refusing to acknowledge systemic problems within the military, saying cooperation became impossible after key initiatives were repeatedly obstructed.
Fedorov said he never demanded that Zelensky choose between him and Syrsky, but claimed that after the president decided to keep the commander-in-chief, “all our initiatives began to be blocked.”
Fedorov argued that Ukraine needs sweeping changes in its military leadership, including replacing both the commander-in-chief and the chief of the General Staff to give younger commanders more influence.
He also accused the General Staff of delaying reforms, saying it took four months to approve a drone supply program for brigades and that the defense ministry was unable to restructure because key changes were repeatedly rejected.
Defending his six-month tenure, Fedorov highlighted rapid advances in military technology, saying interceptor drones now destroy up to 70-80% of Russian Shahed drones, procurement of ground robotic systems has increased from 12,000 to 50,000 units, and Ukraine is developing a new air defense concept capable of intercepting up to 95% of Shahed drones and cruise missiles.
He also argued that mobilization problems cannot be solved without broader military reforms and called for a new generation of commanders trained in modern warfare.
Fedorov’s remarks came as parliament prepared to consider his dismissal as part of the government’s reshuffle, though lawmakers had not yet voted on the measure.
The planned removal has triggered public protests in Kyiv and other cities and drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius, while Ukrainian media reported that support for Fedorov’s dismissal in parliament remained uncertain.
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