As President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepares to reshuffle his cabinet, the focus will be on Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech expert whose ouster could impact Kyiv’s efforts in its war with Russia.
Defence Minister’s Reforms
Since his appointment six months ago, Fedorov has led an ambitious campaign to transform Ukraine’s outmanned army into a more efficient fighting force. He has been credited with boosting drone procurement and pursuing a data-driven strategy of exhausting Russian forces.
However, Fedorov’s attempts to clean up defence procurement have angered parts of the establishment, and he has been criticized by some lawmakers for failing to deliver quickly enough on his pledge to reform recruitment.
Uncertain Future
It is unclear whether Zelenskiy plans to keep Fedorov in his post, and even if he is nominated again, some lawmakers have suggested that parliament may not approve him given cross-party concerns.
Critics of the changes warn that replacing Fedorov could destabilize a key ministry just as Ukraine appears to be putting fresh pressure on Russia by disrupting energy supplies and slowing its battlefield advances.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
