Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary from throughout the political spectrum.
Each Monday, Struggle on the Rocks members get a curated choice of op-eds and editorials from Ukrainian-language media to know how Ukrainians themselves debate the most important points shaping their nation. Western protection of Ukraine usually narrows to the battlefield; these items widen the view to day by day life, politics, and public argument in a nation at battle.
A typical version supplies roughly a dozen items sorted into 5 classes: Frontline and Technique, Allies and Diplomacy, Home Politics, Economic system, and Society and Tradition — closing with detailed Editor’s Notes on the patterns we’re seeing and the questions that linger.
This week, we’re shaking it up. A authorities reshuffle has grow to be a full political disaster, sparking protests in Kyiv and outrage on-line, so this free particular version units the standard classes apart to focus completely on one story: the shock dismissal of Protection Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
If that is the form of perception you need in your inbox each week, grow to be a Struggle on the Rocks member and by no means miss an version.
Background
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s youngest-ever Minister of Protection, was abruptly dismissed in July 2026, simply six months into the job, as a part of a Cupboard reshuffle below incoming Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. He’s credited with making drone warfare Ukraine’s most deadly functionality by fast innovation, “gamifying” unmanned techniques, and deepening worldwide protection ties. In his farewell deal with, he cited forms, loyalty-based useful resource distribution, and a battle with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who, he says, blocked reforms, forcing him out.
Fedorov’s core technique was fast tech iteration over mass mobilization, updating drones and autonomous battlefield software program each few months to outpace Russia. With him gone, analysts fear successor, Ihor Klymenko, might lack the identical intuition for backing unconventional options.
The dismissal raises questions on accountability and wartime management. Whether or not it displays a real command dispute, a combat over Ukraine’s €70 billion in 2026 NATO help, or causes identified solely to Zelensky, the fallout will form how allies and Ukrainians decide Kyiv’s wartime governance.
The Ukrainian Response
Fedorov’s Personal Phrases
Новий час — Novyi chas (“The New Voice of Ukraine”)
Well-liked Ukrainian information web site with a powerful fame for accuracy
“I Didn’t Give in to Syrskyi’s Ultimatum. I Can’t Keep Silent.”
By Mykhailo Fedorov/July 16, 2026
Fedorov displays on his tenure in Zelensky’s authorities since 2019 and his protection work since 2022. He credit himself with launching United24, sea and long-range drones, the Delta system, e-points, the Unmanned Programs Forces, interceptor drone applications, and disabling Starlink for Russian forces. He cites many unresolved issues for Ukraine’s protection business: weak corps buildings, fixed commander turnover, no accountability, loyalty-based useful resource distribution, and bureaucratic blocking of reforms. He describes an escalating battle with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, who allegedly blocked initiatives and issued an ultimatum: lay low and cease the huge reforms or depart. Fedorov refused the advisory function Zelensky provided him, insisting actual change is required to defeat Russia asymmetrically by expertise relatively than manpower alone, holding expensive the technique he’s labored so onerous to implement throughout his time as Minister of Protection.
“The Minister of Protection is the president’s appointment to make. However at the moment, it isn’t Fedorov personally that the Ukrainian individuals got here out for; they got here out for themselves. As a result of we had seized the initiative on the battlefield and within the sky, and now that trajectory is breaking, and we’re turning away from it. That’s the actual threat, and that’s what individuals got here out for. So this isn’t about me in any respect. Right now we’re speaking in regards to the root of the issue. I don’t want to carry the place of Minister of Protection for its personal sake. I want this place with a view to win the battle.”
Determination Skeptics
Українська правда — Ukrainska Pravda (“Ukrainian Reality”)
Extremely influential centrist-liberal outlet with a strongly pro-reform voice
By Olena Trehub/July 16, 2026
Olena Trehub, Government Director of the Unbiased Anti-Corruption Fee, warns that changing Fedorov dangers paralyzing key institutional reforms (aggressive procurement, DOT-Chain Defence, Drone Deal partnerships, FREYJA missile protection, and 2027 funding plans) amid public protests and E.U. concern voiced by Commissioner Kubilius. Whereas the doubtless incoming Klymenko brings a powerful administrative and mobilization monitor document from the Inside Ministry, she cites unclear official reasoning behind the change, pointing as a substitute to Fedorov’s battle with Syrskyi and mounting mobilization pressures. The writer argues Ukraine’s mobilization disaster is basically a belief drawback, and changing a reform-minded, publicly trusted minister with an untrusted appointee might deepen relatively than clear up it.
“The European Union has careworn its shut cooperation with Fedorov’s group, which helped drive important progress in growing long-range strike capabilities and scaling up protection manufacturing. In accordance with Kubilius, this alternative will inevitably elevate questions throughout the European Union, given the efficient cooperation already established between the 2 sides on the clear use of European financing.”
***
Цензор.НЕТ — Cenzor.NET
Information and opinion web site with a powerful pro-defense, usually conservative voice
“Fedorov’s Dismissal and the Rollback of His Reforms May Result in Ukraine’s Defeat”
By Yevhen Kuzmenko/July 16, 2026
Member of Parliament Mykyta Poturaev introduced his resignation in protest over Fedorov’s ouster, explaining to Censor.NET that his concern isn’t private loyalty, however concern that reforms Fedorov initiated on the Ministry of Protection can be rolled again, risking defeat within the battle. He cited Fedorov’s claims of persecution in opposition to reform-minded officers by navy management. Poturaev mentioned he acted to attract public consideration to the problem, obtained no direct pushback from the President’s Workplace, and doesn’t count on a name from Zelensky. His resignation nonetheless requires a parliamentary vote, doubtless no sooner than August.
“Furthermore, as Mykhailo Fedorov mentioned in his report at the moment, this confrontation sadly confirmed up not solely within the blocking of Ministry of Protection reforms and the military’s failure to reform, but additionally within the persecution of officers who supported and carried out the very best practices the ministry proposed. They began combating in new methods and achieved successes we’re all conscious of. It’s a disgrace we don’t all the time know which officers had been behind them. That will have been a mistake on Mykhailo Fedorov’s half—however we’re at battle, and it’s a must to consistently ask your self how what you say will have an effect on the state of society. Will it assist stability, or the other? We don’t know the reply.”
Determination Defenders
Обозреватель — Obozrevatel (“Observer”)
Main Ukrainian outlet that sits center-right in its editorial voice
“Fixing a Vital Concern: Klymenko Can Carry Order to Mobilization and Recruitment”
By Denys Prokopenko/July 16, 2026
This quick piece from the commander of Ukraine’s 1st Azov Battalion thanks Fedorov for strengthening Ukraine’s protection functionality throughout his tenure and praises his constant state-oriented strategy. He, nonetheless, endorses incoming Protection Minister Ihor Klymenko, citing his attentiveness to frontline points, work on the corps-system transition, help for Nationwide Guard personnel, and mobilization/recruitment expertise. The writer pushes again on critics who dismiss Kylmenko’s “Soviet-style” self-discipline, saying it’ll doubtless be a optimistic for the troops.
“As for the longer term Minister of Protection, I’ll say this: as Minister of Inside Affairs, Ihor Klymenko devoted appreciable time and a spotlight to frontline points—each throughout the Ministry of Inside Affairs and on purely navy issues. Specifically, he actively labored on transitioning the military to a corps system. He persistently defends the pursuits of Nationwide Guard servicemen and pays shut consideration to correctly supplying Nationwide Guard items, and I imagine this identical strategy will now prolong to troopers throughout all buildings defending Ukraine on the entrance line.”
***
Новий час — Novyi chas (“The New Voice of Ukraine”)
Well-liked Ukrainian information web site with a powerful fame for accuracy
“Dramatic Misunderstanding of the State of affairs”
By Vitaliy Portnikov /July 16, 2026
This can be a important opinion piece responding to Fedorov’s farewell speech. The writer argues Fedorov’s complaints about small issues like nameless Telegram channels harassing him reveal both a misunderstanding or willful blindness, since he himself failed to forestall this ecosystem whereas in his authorities capability. The writer acknowledges Fedorov’s reform achievements however calls him politically inexperienced, unaware that structural change is not possible with out deeper reform. The true drawback, the writer argues, is Ukraine’s arbitrary system of appointing/eradicating ministers by loyalty relatively than parliamentary course of, leaving the general public naively drawn to one-off, younger and vivid “saviors” as a substitute of demanding structural accountability.
“I received’t query Fedorov’s reform plans and achievements on the Ministry of Protection. What I see earlier than me, although, is somebody younger and inexperienced in political processes, who even now fails to comprehend that with out structural change, there might be no actual transformation. This is likely to be dismissed as the previous minister’s private blind spot—if it weren’t additionally the place of these now speeding to defend him, none of whom ask the apparent query: why are governments fashioned this manner, why are ministers appointed and dismissed this manner, and why does being a profitable minister come right down to little greater than a lottery ticket?”
Systematic Blame
Газета— Gazeta (“Newspaper”)
Mainstream Ukrainian socio-political information outlet with a pro-Ukraine editorial voice
“Extra Circumstances to Come? Fedorov Loses to Syrskyi, Steps Down”
By Boryslav Bereza/July 16, 2026
Boryslav Bereza notes a firing sample he’s seen since Zelensky took workplace, and particularly because the full-scale invasion began: As soon as somebody falls out of favor with Zelensky’s internal circle, prison circumstances in opposition to them mysteriously floor. In that useless, he predicts investigations into Fedorov’s associates will emerge. He warns the general public that this newest authorities reshuffle will trigger the acquainted sample of setting Ukraine again after months of actual progress.
“Quickly, a number of journalistic investigations into Fedorov’s internal circle can be revealed, and in time it’ll grow to be clear that there are authorized circumstances concerned as properly. Many individuals received’t like what surfaces at the moment. We’ll talk about it correctly as soon as it’s out and when you see what the related authorities are doing and why. It’s price noting, too, that so long as somebody stays near Zelensky, their affairs have a tendency to remain quiet. So what does that inform you? I can solely think about how nervous Konotop should be proper now. However once more, we shouldn’t count on something optimistic from this Cupboard reshuffle. So don’t construct up illusions for your self, simply to be dissatisfied later.”
***
Високий Замок — Vysoky Zamok (“Excessive Fortress”)
Day by day socio-political information outlet with a powerful nationalistic voice
“A Stranger Amongst His Personal”
By Natalia Balyuk/July 16, 2026
Natalia Balyuk argues Fedorov’s removing stems not from reputation or effectiveness, as most individuals declare, however from his refusal to take part in corruption schemes. She cites his reported unwillingness to be a part of these dealings as making him an alien inside Zelensky’s group. The timing, proper after NATO’s Ankara summit pledged €70 billion in 2026 navy help, suggests a “company battle” over controlling these funds, requiring his removing, she believes. The writer frames this alongside previous controversies (Zaluzhny’s dismissal, Poroshenko sanctions, Yermak’s affect) as proof of prioritizing private ambition over wartime protection wants.
“Simply think about the alternatives that opens up for these funds, and there’s no approach to get a bit of them with out controlling the Ministry of Protection. Shortly earlier than his resignation, Fedorov gave an interview by which he defined that he had audited protection contracts, shifted procurement to open tenders, and shut down the corruption schemes the Ministry had been infamous for below each earlier minister, making clear he wouldn’t participate in any such schemes. What we’re witnessing now’s nothing wanting a shameless scramble to redistribute that cash.”
***
Еспресо — Espreso
24-hour tv channel and digital outlet with a pro-European outlook
“Fedorov Wasn’t the Solely Factor Zelensky Took From You, and You All Helped Make It Occur”
By Serhiy Marchenko/July 16, 2026
This op-ed blames public complicity for enabling Zelensky’s sample of prioritizing political optics over strategic substance, now culminating in Fedorov’s ouster. It remembers the general public’s approval of Zelensky’s combative Oval Workplace conflict with Trump (which value Ukraine intelligence-sharing and led to a mineral rights deal), his mockery of Orban (who later blocked E.U. help), and cheers over Zaluzhny’s dismissal, Mindich, and different controversies. The writer argues that by repeatedly celebrating these “strongman” moments and forgiving different scandals, the general public emboldened Zelensky to make unilateral choices based mostly on private political curiosity relatively than the nation’s protection wants.
“You had been cheering alongside, individuals. You liked it. Zelensky’s scores soared sky-high after Zaluzhny’s dismissal and the setbacks on the entrance! You liked your president a lot that you simply had been able to forgive him for the retreats, for Mindich, for all the pieces. As a result of it felt highly effective…Truly, exactly since you appreciated all of it, Zelensky was capable of afford what you might be all protesting in opposition to now — a single determination to weaken the nation’s protection functionality based mostly on his private political pursuits.”
Picture: Ministry of Protection of Ukraine through Wikimedia Commons
Editor’s Notes
To know the scenario of Fedorov’s removing and the following protests and on-line hysteria that ensued, we should always perceive how three key components play a task in Ukrainian life, particularly since 2022: belief, expertise, and turnover. Let’s unpack it.
As a nation at battle, Ukrainians usually write about belief. Which worldwide companions can Ukraine belief to ship on help guarantees? Which authorities officers can the general public belief to make the very best choices for the way forward for Ukraine as soon as the combating ends? Which media sources and cultural figures can Ukrainians belief to truly promote the actual pursuits of Ukraine, relatively than some type of manufactured Russian propaganda? These questions are all the time prevalent week to week in Ukrainian media, and the removing of Fedorov brings the dialog of belief entrance and heart. Naturally, there’s a rising sense of mistrust towards President Zelensky and the fixed turnover his authorities has skilled. There’s additionally a public belief component to this story, which Olena Trehub writes about in her commentary. If Zelensky needs Ukrainians to belief him, the nation, and the battle effort sufficient to volunteer for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, firing one of the crucial fashionable members of his cupboard because the full-scale battle started just isn’t the best way to do it, she explains. It’s fascinating how this virtually turns Fedorov into an emblem of types, certainly one of youthful ambition, daring options, and a brighter future. The significance of this type of symbolic determine for younger individuals in Ukraine proper now shouldn’t be missed. We consistently see articles considering how to make sure younger individuals imagine in the way forward for Ukraine sufficient to remain and push by the present wartime actuality. Was Fedorov that determine? It’s onerous to say, however take a fast take a look at any image or video from the protests over his removing and word the age of these holding indicators and chanting.
The youthfulness Fedorov embodied in his function was strengthened much more by his philosophy towards expertise as Ukraine’s distinctive benefit over Russia, and he’s not alone on this perception. Any critical protection scholar who research the Russo-Ukrainian Struggle attributes a big share of Ukraine’s success in holding off Russia’s huge navy to fast drone innovation, inventive autonomous options, and a willingness to strive new ways and capabilities. A lot of the progress on unmanned techniques, particularly within the final six months, is immediately tied to the pushes Fedorov made to safe worldwide financing for his daring concepts and insert drones into virtually each dialog about battlefield technique. The best way Ukraine has used drones to its benefit on this battle has basically modified how wars are fought and perceived, a consensus shared amongst international locations, navy alliances, and people really flying them. Talking of these really flying them, we have to discuss one thing else: those that defend Zelensky’s determination to take away Fedorov.
Typically, there’s a reasonably constant public consensus amongst authorities employees, civilians, and on a regular basis commentators on a given defense-related subject, however virtually all the time, there’s a minimum of one active-duty service member who writes a counterargument to the prevailing norm. These writers virtually all the time invoke their lived expertise on the frontlines as their reasoning for believing one thing apart from the favored narrative, and this case was no completely different. The commander of an Azov battalion who endorsed Zelensky’s choose for Protection Minister didn’t discredit Fedorov in any manner, however he notably provided no critique of the choice both, as a substitute specializing in a optimistic view of what the brand new minister may do for mobilization numbers. This place is sensible, given patterns which have emerged over time in Ukrainian media: actively serving troops discover little use for public statements and political debates, as a result of regardless of all of it, the battle continues they usually should hold combating. As a lot of them specific, the one factor that issues to the individual risking their life on the frontline is victory or failure on the battlefield, and that sentiment comes by clearly on this piece. The writer wastes no time on political debate; he merely accepts the playing cards he’s been dealt and tries, whether or not out of real perception or for the sake of his fighters’ morale, to make one thing optimistic of it.
Possibly that’s the actual divide working beneath all of this. For these watching from Kyiv’s streets or newsroom desks, Fedorov’s removing is a referendum on belief, symbolism, and how much nation Ukraine needs to be after the battle. For the person holding down his submit in Kostiantynivka, none of that adjustments what occurs at daybreak. Maybe probably the most uncomfortable fact on this entire episode is that each instincts are proper. A democracy at battle can’t survive with out public belief and a hopeful manner ahead, and a military at battle can’t survive with out troopers who’ve realized to not await a savior.
Grow to be a Struggle on the Rocks member to entry each version of The Ukraine Compass, in addition to our full suite of unique, members-only content material.
Simply within the Russo-Ukrainain Struggle? Take a look at our devoted membership tier that brings you Struggle on the Rocks’ finest protection of the battle.
Picture: Ministry of Protection of Ukraine through Wikimedia Commons
