Ukraine risks a slow defeat in its war with Russia unless it implements sweeping reforms within the next few months, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov warned in an interview with Reuters. Fedorov, dismissed last month after clashing with military and political leaders over procurement and mobilization reforms, said Ukraine lacks a coherent plan to end the conflict and is crippled by entrenched corruption and patronage networks.
He criticized the government’s inability to deploy available technologies, such as autonomous AI-guided drones and cheap interceptors, which could neutralize Russian air attacks. Fedorov also highlighted Ukraine’s struggling frontline, where poorly motivated conscripts man sparse dugouts while Russia advances slowly in the Donbas. Despite Ukraine’s recent drone strikes deep into Russia disrupting fuel supplies and military logistics, he warned the window to press these advantages is closing.
Fedorov’s dismissal followed his push for wartime elections, a move President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned as destabilizing. Fedorov denied external influence, insisting the call stemmed from a systemic governance crisis. He now plans to focus on restoring elections and advancing military tech, including an investment fund for autonomous systems, during an upcoming U.S. trip.
