Zelensky reshuffles cabinet, Fedorov dismissed as defense minister after six months

President Volodymyr Zelensky has undertaken a series of changes in the Ukrainian government, including the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of defense minister, only six months after he took over the position.

Fedorov himself announced his departure via a social media post, saying that serving the Ukrainian people had been “a great honor”.

The cabinet moves come after Zelensky proposed Sergii Koretskyi, the head of the state oil and gas company Naftogaz, for the post of new prime minister.

According to the Ukrainian president, these changes are needed to prepare the country for the coming winter, amid relentless Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid. “The priorities are clear: preparing for winter,” Zelensky stated, stressing that Koretskyi is the most suitable candidate to lead the government at this stage.

Last winter, Russian strikes on power plants and energy facilities left large areas of Ukraine without electricity and heating for extended periods, as temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Fedorov’s dismissal comes just as Ukraine is entering preparations for another difficult war winter and for possible Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

After his departure, Ihor Klymenko, who currently holds the post of interior minister of Ukraine, is expected to take over the Ministry of Defense. Authorities have not officially clarified the reason for the dismissal, and it remains unclear whether Fedorov will be appointed to another government post.

Fedorov was appointed defense minister in January. During his time in this role, Ukraine continued using drone technology in the war against Russia. Previously, as minister of digital transformation, he was praised for increasing the use of military drones and expanding cooperation with American technology companies.

However, reports indicate that his efforts to curb favoritism in defense contracts had caused clashes with several prominent political and military figures.

Meanwhile, Zelensky announced that Ukraine aims to start producing missiles for the American Patriot air defense systems by the end of the year. This announcement followed the United States’ promise to grant Kyiv the license for manufacturing these missiles.

Experts, however, estimate that setting up a stable production line for Patriot missiles could take several years.

The government reorganization and Fedorov’s departure come at a time when Ukraine is facing greater pressure from Russian attacks. According to the United Nations, June recorded the highest number of civilian casualties from Russian strikes since April 2022, with at least 293 civilians killed.