Mykhailo Fedorov appointed defense minister. His plans include army reform, fight against corruption

Before the vote, Fedorov told lawmakers the ministry faces “a huge number of problems” and stressed that “you cannot fight with new technologies using an old organizational structure.” His priorities include army reform, improved frontline infrastructure and “eradicating lies and corruption.”

Key plans outlined by Fedorov:

• Changes to the training system for Ukrainian service members;
• Comprehensive audit of territorial recruitment centers, followed by a “systemic solution” to address long-standing issues while preserving defense capability;
• Audit of the Defense Ministry and Armed Forces to find ways to improve financial and social support for troops;
• Ensuring basic drone equipping for brigades;
• Increasing volumes of international military aid;
• Making defense technologies a leading global industry for Ukraine, including development of domestic air defense systems and laser-guided artillery shells.

Fedorov’s team also aims to make Ukraine the world’s first country capable of predicting and neutralizing enemy attacks using artificial intelligence.

He described the ministry as facing a 300 billion hryvnia ($6.9 billion) funding shortfall, two million Ukrainians wanted for draft evasion and 200,000 AWOL cases.

“We have clear war goals agreed by the supreme commander-in-chief, the president. Everyone who helps achieve those goals will receive the necessary resources to move forward. Those who cannot cope will leave the system,” Fedorov said.

Background

On Tuesday, parliament approved Fedorov’s dismissal from his previous roles as digital transformation minister and first deputy prime minister.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed Fedorov to lead the Defense Ministry instead of Denys Shmyhal, emphasizing the need for greater technology adoption and transformation in defense.

The head of state noted that since the full-scale war began, the Digital Ministry has been a key source of innovation for defense, including weapons production, drone use and modern communications. He said Fedorov has been deeply involved in the “drone line” initiative.

“Russia’s main advantage in this war is the ability to apply scale — in strikes and assaults. We must respond with more active use of technology, faster development of new weapons and new tactics,” Zelenskyy explained.