Zelenskyy Plans to Replace Defense Minister with Interior Ministry Head

Shake-Up in Ukraine's Government

According to ХВИЛЯ: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to reshuffle his cabinet, with the most notable change being the replacement of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. This information comes from lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak and sources within the ruling 'Servant of the People' party. Tensions between Fedorov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the military leadership are cited as the driving force behind the move, particularly disagreements over artillery shell procurement.

Fedorov will remain part of the president's team but without a specific role. According to Zheleznyak, Zelenskyy informed the parliamentary faction that he would nominate Klymenko as defense minister, while describing Fedorov's future as:

“he will be somewhere nearby”

(Yaroslav Zheleznyak). This signals that the leadership change at the defense ministry could be part of a broader effort to reform Ukraine's military sector.

Potential Cabinet Reshuffles

Beyond the defense portfolio, additional cabinet changes have been announced. Ivan Vyhivskyi is expected to take over as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Andriy Butenko is reportedly in line to lead the Ministry of Education and Science, while Vitaliy Kim may become Minister of Veterans and Internally Displaced Persons.

• Vsevolod Chentsov - Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration;
• Denys Maslov - Minister of Justice;
• Oksana Ferchuk - Ministry of Digital Transformation;
• Denys Uliutin or Daryna Marchak - Ministry of Social Policy;
• Oleksandr Kravchenko - Ministry of Economy and Ecology;
• Taras Vysotskyi - Ministry of Agrarian Policy;
• Vitaliy Bezgin - Ministry of Communities and Territories Development;
• Mykola Kalashnyk - Ministry of Infrastructure.

Other ministers will remain in their posts, indicating stability in other government sectors. These shifts in leadership could shape Ukraine's future policies, particularly regarding defense and crisis management.

The cabinet reshuffle reflects not only internal conflicts but also an opportunity to reform key sectors that directly impact national security and stability. Given the urgent focus on defense matters, appointing Ihor Klymenko as defense minister could be a crucial step toward improving coordination between the military command and the government. However, the full impact of these changes will only become clear over time as new appointees begin implementing their policies and strategies.

This leadership change comes amid growing tensions within the military, particularly between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. For a deeper understanding of the ongoing conflicts impacting Ukraine's defense strategy and Zelenskyy's approach, read more about the rift between key military figures.