Why Zelensky fired Ukraine’s defense minister, explained

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has triggered one of Ukraine’s biggest political controversies since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. During his tenure in government, first as digital transformation minister and later as defense minister, Fedorov helped transform the Ukrainian military through sweeping reforms and technological innovation. His removal has raised fears that the decision could weaken the country’s war effort. The Kyiv Independent’s Kateryna Denisova and Kateryna Hodunova speak with military analyst Mykola Bielieskov and opposition lawmaker Inna Sovsun about the conflict between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, why Zelensky sided with Syrskyi, and what the shake-up could mean for Ukraine’s military, domestic politics, and war against Russia. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine. Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi... Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world. 00:00 Intro 01:18 Fedorov's military reforms 07:19 Fedorov vs. Syrskyi 13:39 What his dismissal means 16:24 Support independent journalism in Ukraine 16:48 Why Zelensky chose Syrskyi 19:26 How Zelensky handled Fedorov's predecessors 25:31 What happens next? 29:55 Outro