Mykhailo Fedorov to become Ukraine's defence minister – the Verkhovna Rada has yet to approve

With Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine is getting a new designated defence minister. Until now, he has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation. However, the approval of the Verkhovna Rada is still pending: the Ukrainian parliament appoints the defence minister on the proposal of the president.

Fedorov has been part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's team continuously since 2019. He is the only minister to have survived every cabinet reshuffle.

He was then appointed the youngest Deputy Prime Minister in Ukraine's history. In the newly created Ministry of Digital Transformation, he put Zelensky's vision of the “state in a smartphone” into practice; this gave rise to “Diia”, the state mobile application for government services.

Through the app, Ukrainians have access to digitised versions of various official documents, such as their passport, driving licence, vehicle registration certificate and tax identification number. It can also be used to register a business or the birth of a child.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Starlink and Brave1

Fedorov is one of the most important negotiators in talks with international technology groups; for US billionaire Elon Musk (SpaceX, Starlink), he is Ukraine's main point of contact. In 2022, Fedorov immediately turned to Musk and asked him to provide Starlink terminals. In 2022, these terminals saved Ukraine's military communications, and they remain a key factor to this day, especially at the tactical level.

Fedorov also played a key role in launching Brave1. The project links his ministry with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and is intended to drive forward the development of military technologies, above all drones.

Zelensky is thus relying on a close confidant who also represents the faction that stands for innovation and adaptability on the battlefield. Fedorov is regarded as one of the central figures in Ukraine's transformation towards a digital battlefield. The share of drones in the country's military striking power has recently grown steadily; with Mykhailo Fedorov at the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, this trend is likely to accelerate further.