Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto reached out to Oleksandr Fedorov the day after Fedorov’s dismissal, proposing he take on an advisory role in Rome. Crosetto shared that Fedorov was “moved” by the offer, interpreting it as a “gesture of respect and friendship.”
Crosetto commended Fedorov’s contributions as a catalyst for military innovations, labeling him as one of the individuals who have “entirely rewritten the rules of engagement on the battlefield.” He highlighted Fedorov’s impact on the Ukrainian military’s ability to regain initiative in combat, crediting him with integrating new technologies into tactical operations.
In context, on July 15, the Ukrainian parliament approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s government. Following the news of Fedorov’s absence from the newly formed Cabinet, protests erupted in Ukraine demanding his reinstatement and a replacement for the military commander.
Media speculated that Fedorov’s replacement might stem from a conflict with the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky. Reports indicated that during a faction meeting on July 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky explained that he could no longer tolerate the ongoing discord between Fedorov and Syrsky, who had “stopped listening to each other.”
On July 23, Zelensky mentioned he had offered Fedorov various positions in the government, including a deputy prime minister role, which Fedorov declined, expressing his desire to return to his previous post. As of now, the president has appointed Yevhen Khmara, the former acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, to temporarily oversee the Ministry of Defense, with no indications of reversing this decision.
