Ukraine's Fedorov insists he will only accept defense minister post

Ukraine's former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has declared he will not accept any government position other than defense minister. His dismissal last week triggered significant street protests in several Ukrainian cities.

Fedorov, a popular figure, stated in a message to journalists that the defense minister role is the only one with the actual authority needed to fight corruption in defense procurement, complete the army's transformation, and execute asymmetric operations against the enemy. This assertion comes amid reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had offered him alternative posts.

Rumors initially suggested Fedorov's removal stemmed from a conflict with Ukraine's Chief of Defense, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov himself confirmed this friction, accusing Syrskyi of blocking his ministerial initiatives. Syrskyi has denied these claims, according to AFP.

President Zelenskyy also dismissed Syrskyi on Wednesday. Fedorov alleged that Syrskyi had pressured Zelenskyy to remove him from his post. The ongoing political shifts follow a period of intense scrutiny on defense spending and military strategy.

“

No other role has the actual authority to combat corruption in procurement, complete the army's transformation, and plan and execute asymmetric operations against the enemy.