Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sparking nationwide protests. In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Fedorov revealed that his removal was directly linked to his efforts to overhaul military procurement and tender processes, reforms that threatened powerful vested interests.
The 35-year-old Fedorov, previously the Minister of Digital Transformation, was known for modernizing Ukraine's military with a tech-driven approach. He was appointed defense minister in January following a corruption scandal in the energy sector. Upon taking office, he immediately boosted drone production and improved pay for volunteer soldiers, quickly earning widespread public and grassroots military support.
In the interview, Fedorov disclosed that he had warned Zelenskyy that defense procurement reforms would cut off up to $100 million in expected revenue for a specific private company, potentially provoking severe political retaliation. He criticized the Defense Ministry for being filled with officials appointed by domestic private conglomerates to protect their interests. He also alleged interference from law enforcement agencies during the reform process, creating constant pressure from powerful interest groups throughout his short tenure.
On July 15, Zelenskyy issued a decree dismissing Fedorov. The official explanation cited tensions between Fedorov and the conservative Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. However, this decision triggered mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, with thousands demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and calling for Syrskyi's removal instead.
To quell public anger, Zelenskyy last week replaced Syrskyi with 43-year-old General Mykhailo Drapatyi, a commander popular among frontline troops. The new commander publicly supports Fedorov's return and the continuation of reforms. However, Zelenskyy has not yet reinstated Fedorov to his former position.
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- Source: PR Times
- Category: 人事