Zelenskyy removes defense minister as Ukraine prepares new government

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, adding a fresh layer of political uncertainty in Kyiv while the war with Russia continues. For investors watching European energy risk, defense spending and the wider cost of the conflict, the change lands as Ukraine is also replacing its prime minister.

Fedorov confirmed his dismissal Wednesday in a social media post, saying it had been a “great honor to serve the Ukrainian people.” His exit is part of Zelenskyy’s fourth major government reshuffle since Russia began its full-scale invasion, CNBC reported.

Fedorov had served for six months and was viewed as a prominent supporter of Ukraine’s use of drones in the war. In his post, he pointed to what he called his team’s achievements, including shutting down Starlink systems for Russian forces, isolating occupied Crimea and carrying out “an unpopular but extremely important transformation of the army.”

Political change during wartime

The dismissal comes shortly after Ukraine’s parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who had held the job for about a year. Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, said Wednesday on Facebook that Serhiy Koretsky, the current chief executive of state-owned energy company Naftogaz, has been nominated to become prime minister.

Stefanchuk said Zelenskyy put Koretsky forward for the role. Zelenskyy had previously identified preparations for winter and efforts to secure a ceasefire, meaning a halt in fighting, as immediate priorities for the government.

Zelenskyy said Sunday on X that “Ukraine is changing its political strategy.” He said each key area of foreign policy would be assigned to a specific person with enough experience to carry out what leaders agree to and what Ukrainians expect.

Protest calls follow Fedorov’s exit

The removal has drawn calls from some Ukrainians for a peaceful protest in Kyiv. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran who helped organize nationwide protests last summer, wrote on social media Wednesday that “it’s no longer possible to tolerate what’s happening with our government,” according to a translation cited by CNBC.

Koziatynskyi called on people to gather Thursday morning at Franko Square and show Zelenskyy they oppose repeated government changes and the replacement of effective ministers with what he called convenient opportunists, according to the translated post.

The timing is sensitive because Ukraine’s drone operations have become a central part of its military strategy. CNBC reported that Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and military targets after expanding drone production and capabilities during four years of war.

Those attacks have included oil refineries in major Russian cities, part of Kyiv’s effort to raise the economic cost of the war for Russia and weaken Russian forces in southern Ukraine, according to CNBC. Defense experts and strategists cited by CNBC have described the drone campaign as pivotal in slowing Russia’s military momentum, while warning that Ukraine’s longer-range strikes have raised the risk of escalation.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.