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Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle
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Mykhailo Fedorov, who served as Ukraine's defense minister for six months, was dismissed as part of a government reshuffle.
He also persuaded Elon Musk to switch off Starlink internet terminals that were being used by the Russian military.
Ukraine invasion — explained Ukraine hits a Moscow oil refinery and other sites in a large-scale drone attack Fedorov, who previously led Ukraine's digital transformation ministry, also introduced reforms to improve transparency in arms procurement.
He totally changed the rules. He's not afraid to take some risk or responsibility," said Ihor Fedirko, who leads the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry.
Zelenskyy is expected to nominate Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's current interior minister — a former police general with traditional ideas — to replace Fedorov. The Interior Ministry manages units in Ukraine's National Guard.
In Moscow, the Kremlin played down the importance of Fedorov's dismissal — despite his role in shaping Ukraine's attack drone program against the Russian interior.
"It doesn't make any difference who the defense minister is," said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. "What matters to us is that there is someone among the regime in Kyiv prepared to make the responsible decision: one that would allow a peaceful settlement."
Peskov added that Moscow's conditions to end the war — demands that include Ukraine voluntarily surrender more of its territory — were well known in Kyiv.
NPR's Charles Maynes contributed reporting from Moscow. Polina Lytvynova contributed to this story from Kyiv.
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− Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Zelenskyy fires Ukraine’s tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, who pushed for innovation in the battlefield through the use of drones and turned the tables on Russia.
+ Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Zelenskyy fires Ukraine’s tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who pushed for innovation on the battlefield through use of drones and turned the tables on Russia.
− World Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle July 16, 20267:33 AM ET Joanna Kakissis
Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed as defense minister, speaks to reporters on Thursday.
+ World Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle Updated July 16, 20265:24 PM ET Originally published July 16, 20267:33 AM ET Joanna Kakissis
Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed as defense minister, speaks to reporters on Thursday.
− ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, who pushed for innovation in the battlefield through the use of drones and turned the tables on Russia.
+ ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, who pushed for innovation on the battlefield through the use of drones and turned the tables on Russia.
− Parliament has already approved Zelenskyy's choice for prime minister, Serhii Koretskyi, former CEO of Naftogaz, the country's largest oil and gas company.
+ Fedorov is seen by Ukrainian lawmakers, soldiers and civil society activists as one of the most effective wartime officials.
− Lawmakers must also approve Fedorov's replacement.
+ He pushed for the use of sophisticated drone warfare in Russia's war on Ukraine. His tenure coincided with a dramatic shift in Ukraine's favor on the battlefield.
− Ukraine invasion — explained Inside a secretive Ukrainian team launching deep drone strikes at Russia The defense minister's dismissal came just hours after Ukraine signed deals with the European Union to boost drone production.
+ Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, he gave an impassioned defense of his ministry's accomplishments and hit out at the country's old-school military chief, Gen.
− Last week, President Trump agreed during NATO's summit in Turkey to grant Ukraine the licence to produce missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot defense system to defend against Russia's ballistic missiles.
+ Oleksandr Syrsky, for blocking attempts to modernize.
− Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Fedorov said he was proud of what his team had accomplished in just six months.
+ "Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, which is the army chief's task," he said, "he has figured out how to divide the country."
"The war has completely changed," he added.
− He said he had received supportive messages from other defense ministers as well as the leaders of tech giants, including Alex Karp of Palantir, who offered him a job that he turned down.
+ "We can't keep going on what worked back then."
During a press conference in Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy acknowledged the tension between Syrsky and Fedorov, and said they couldn't work together unless he was the mediator.
− "I don't need to be Minister of Defense just to be Minister of Defense," he said.
+ "I wanted unity very much," Zelenskyy told reporters.
− "I need this position so we can win this war."
There was no immediate comment from Zelenskyy's office.
+ "The sides did not find it. And that is not only their problem, but mine as well. I do not absolve myself of responsibility. And I respect the sides, I know their strengths, I know their weaknesses, and I very much want them to strengthen Ukraine. But it is what it is."
He has appointed Yevhen Khmara, who currently leads Ukraine's security service, as the acting defense minister. Khmara has been involved in the long-range strike campaigns against Russia that have hit oil refineries and depots in an attempt to weaken the Kremlin's ability to wage war.
− Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy's party, told NPR Zelenskyy fired Fedorov because the 35-year old minister clashed with old-school military generals and due to his controversial reforms on military conscription.
+ However, there were protests on Thursday in Ukrainian cities demanding that Zelenskyy reappoint Fedorov. Those protests are expected to continue on Friday.
− During Fedorov's tenure as the defense minister, Ukraine saw a dramatic improvement of its position in the battlefield, including his push for innovative use of Ukraine's cutting edge drones in warfare.
+ Ukraine's parliament has already approved Zelenskyy's choice for prime minister, Serhii Koretskyi, former CEO of Naftogaz, the country's largest oil and gas company.
− In recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have reached deep into Russia, including Moscow, hitting oil refineries.
+ Ukraine invasion — explained Inside a secretive Ukrainian team launching deep drone strikes at Russia The defense minister's dismissal came just hours after Ukraine signed deals with the European Union to boost drone production.
− Drones have also struck supply routes for Russian troops in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, including the southern peninsula of Crimea.
+ Last week, President Trump agreed during NATO's summit in Turkey to grant Ukraine the license to produce missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot defense system to defend against Russia's ballistic missiles.
− Ukraine's defense industry makes up at least 30 % of Ukraine's GDP and defense tech is the fastest growing industry in the country.
Fedorov advocated for the use of mid-range drone strikes to disrupt Russia's war logistics in Crimea and other parts of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
+ Oleksandr Merezhko, a lawmaker with Zelenskyy's party, told NPR that appointing Fedorov "was one of the best decisions Zelenskyy made."
Pavlo Yelizarov, a deputy commander of Ukraine's air force, announced on Facebook he was stepping down in response to Fedorov's dismissal.
+ Yelizarov called Fedorov's dismissal "a great blow to the country's defense capability."
Fedorov advocated for the use of mid-range drone strikes to disrupt Russia's war logistics in Crimea and other parts of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.
− "One of the faces of the modern and technological war it's Mykhailo Fedorov.
+ "One of the faces of the modern and technological war, it's Mykhailo Fedorov.