In his first public briefing since leaving office as Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov addressed the reasons behind his resignation, discussed his working relationship with the country’s military leadership, explained why he declined President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to remain on the team in an advisory capacity, and outlined what he described as the ministry’s key achievements during his tenure.

On His Relationship With Oleksandr Syrskyi

Fedorov confirmed that he and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi held fundamentally different views on how Ukraine’s defense sector should be managed. According to the former minister, he was prepared to continue working alongside Syrskyi after President Zelenskyy decided to keep the commander in his post. However, Fedorov said many of the Defense Ministry’s reform initiatives continued to face internal resistance, while efforts to establish a constructive working dialogue ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Why He Declined a Presidential Advisory Role

Following his resignation, President Zelenskyy offered Fedorov an opportunity to remain part of the presidential team as an adviser or in another capacity. Fedorov said he declined the proposal, emphasizing that he has never viewed holding public office as an end in itself. At the same time, he noted that discussions about possible future cooperation with the president remain ongoing and confirmed that the two had already spoken by phone.

On the Public Protests

Addressing the recent demonstrations, Fedorov argued that they were driven not by his departure from office but by broader public concerns over the state of Ukraine’s defense governance. According to him, citizens took to the streets because they expect meaningful and effective reform within the defense sector. He added that he does not define his professional mission by any particular government position and believes addressing systemic challenges should remain the priority.

Working Alongside President Zelenskyy

Fedorov said he spent seven years working closely with President Zelenskyy and has consistently remained a loyal member of his team. During that period, he said, he did not pursue independent political projects, engage in private business activities, or become involved in corruption.

A Call for an Open Debate

The former defense minister argued that Ukraine possesses the resources and capabilities necessary to achieve victory. However, he said success will depend on modern management practices, the rapid adoption of innovation, and an open discussion of the structural challenges facing the country’s defense establishment.

Savings on Defense Procurement

Fedorov also highlighted what he described as major savings achieved through the Defense Ministry’s procurement strategy. According to his figures, competitive bidding processes reduced artillery ammunition procurement costs by approximately $100 million, while drone acquisitions generated savings worth billions of dollars.

He said a tender involving six companies for artillery shells and a separate procurement process involving 59 manufacturers competing to supply 160,000 Krymstrike drones reduced contract prices by an estimated 20–30%.

Allegations of an Information Campaign

Fedorov also claimed that he had been the target of a coordinated information campaign over the past year. He pointed to repeated public criticism from Danylo Hetmantsev, chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, regarding the eExcise digital system and the PlayCity project.

The former minister further alleged that after a change in ownership, the Telegram channel Trukha began consistently linking his name to negative news narratives, including coverage related to Ukraine’s Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (TCCs). Fedorov called for an investigation into who may have orchestrated the campaign and what motives could have driven it during wartime.