"I decided to change the structure of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and have proposed Mikhailo Fedorov for the position of new defense minister", President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media on 2/1.

Fedorov's predecessor, Denys Shmyhal, was appointed defense minister by Zelensky in 7/2025, less than six months ago.

The Ukrainian president did not specify the reason for the change, stating only that Shmyhal would be assigned to another government area, which is equally important for the country's stability.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in The Hague, Netherlands in 12/2025. Photo: AFP

Fedorov, 34 years old, currently serves as the first deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation in the Ukrainian government. According to President Zelensky, Fedorov "is deeply involved in drone-related issues" and has demonstrated high efficiency in digitizing state services and processes.

Under Ukraine's constitution, the appointment of a defense minister requires parliamentary approval based on the president's proposal.

Fedorov, a former entrepreneur from Zaporizhzhia, is among the few officials who have been with President Zelensky's team since he began his political career in 2019. He is also a rare minister who has navigated every government reshuffle during the period of conflict.

Under Fedorov's leadership, Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation has spearheaded numerous projects, including drone production and education reform. He played a key role in launching the Brave1 project, which connects the Ministry of Digital Transformation with the Ministry of Defense to advance military technology.

In the autumn of 2024, Fedorov was the only minister in the Ukrainian government with a higher approval rating than disapproval rating among the public, with 31% of citizens expressing confidence, according to a Razumkov Center survey.

Defense minister Denys Shmyhal (left) and minister of digital transformation Mikhailo Fedorov at a meeting in 7/2025. Photo: Kyiv Independent

Alongside personnel adjustments at the Ministry of Defense, President Zelensky also made changes within the Presidential Office. He appointed military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as chief of staff, replacing Andriy Yermak. Oleh Ivashchenko was designated to lead the military intelligence agency.

Former chief of staff Yermak, 54 years old, was a close friend of President Volodymyr Zelensky before the Ukrainian leader started his political career. He resigned in 11/2025 after the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) searched his home in connection with a corruption scandal at the nuclear power generation company Energoatom.

President Zelensky stated that this restructuring aims to drive changes in the defense sector, fostering coordination among the military, command, domestic arms manufacturers, and Ukraine's partners.