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Fedorov rejects new role
Ukraine’s ousted popular defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov rejected the idea of serving in another role after Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered him a new post days after dismissing him in a sweeping government reshuffle.
“- Published Ukraine's ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has refused to accept an alternative post in Volodymyr Zelensky's government, insisting he wants his job back”
Zelenskyy, quoted by Ukrainian media outlets on Thursday, said he offered Fedorov the post of deputy prime minister for military innovations, but Fedorov said Ukraine’s defense minister, president and commander-in-chief are the only three roles outside battlefield troops that can “actually shape the course of the war.”
In a statement sent out to journalists and quoted by Reuters and Ukrainian media, Fedorov said, “No other role carries the actual authority to combat procurement corruption, complete the army’s transformation, plan and execute asymmetric operations against the enemy,” and added that he would not accept any position other than defense minister.
The dispute has fueled protests demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement as defense minister, after his dismissal last week “after just six months in office” led to demonstrators calling for him to be brought back.
The reshuffle also included Zelenskyy sacking Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief, while the interim defense minister role went to Yevhenii Khmara.
Protests and competing messages
As protests continued, Ukrainian public broadcasters Suspіlne and hromadske reported that on 23 July the calls for Fedorov’s reinstatement in Kyiv continued for an eighth day, with several hundred people gathered in the capital.
Ukrainian public broadcasters Suspіlne and hromadske also said participants chanted “Fedorov! Fedorov! Fedorov!” and “You won't be able to ignore us,” while the same coverage reported additional demands to replace Vitalii Kim as head of the Ministry of Veterans.
In a late-night TV address, Zelenskyy said he was appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of Ukraine’s armed forces and credited Syrskyi with leading the defence of Kyiv and launching a counter-invasion of Russia’s Kursk province in summer 2024.
Zelenskyy also said he was bringing Mykhailo Fedorov back into government after his removal prompted thousands of people to demonstrate in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, and he told the country, “Our shared wish is one – victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace.”
Fedorov welcomed Drapatyi’s appointment, saying, “This brings a breath of fresh air and new hope to the struggle of free people for freedom and justice,” while AFP interviews in Izium reported a soldier saying Syrskyi’s departure was a “good thing” but that he still wanted Fedorov to return to government.
What changes next
The political standoff is now tied to who holds the defense portfolio and how Ukraine’s military leadership is reorganized, after Zelenskyy fired Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief while filling the defense minister role with Yevhenii Khmara.
“✕ Home News Analysis Agro-Forestry Art & Culture Technology Economy & Business Education Energy & Extractives Politics Law & Governance Health Science & Environment Social & Gender Sports Transport Urban Development WASH Research LogIn/SignUp Close the sidebar Ukraine's Defence Shake-up: The Fedorov Stand-off Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's ousted defence minister, has refused any government role other than his previous position, intensifying political unrest amid ongoing war with Russia”
Zelenskyy said Drapatyi would oversee a reorganisation of the army’s command structure and that Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks on targets in Russia such as oil refineries would continue, adding, “Our programme of precision strikes will be implemented with absolute precision,” and promising a smooth and coordinated handover following Syrskyi’s departure.
On the protesters’ side, France 24 with AFP said the surprise replacement of reformist minister Fedorov last week brought several thousand people onto the streets demanding his reinstatement and the removal of army chief Oleksandr Syrsky, and it quoted a soldier in Izium saying, “He's introducing contracts so that mobilised soldiers at least know how long they'll have to serve,” referring to Fedorov’s lobbying.
RFI reported that after six days of gatherings the president conceded to one of the protesters’ requests by offering Mykhailo Fedorov a position of importance, while protesters still wanted the reinstatement of Fedorov as defense minister and the immediate reconvening of Parliament, which RFI said has paused for the summer until August 18.
The stakes extend beyond the leadership fight, because the Guardian reported Zelenskyy and Drapatyi agreed that long-range drone attacks would continue, while the same coverage said Fedorov’s new role remained unclear amid reports that he was insisting on being given his old job back as defense minister.
