---
title: "Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Pavel Elizarov Resigns: 'Fedorov's Removal is an Evil for Defense'"
description: "Pavel Elizarov, Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has resigned in the 5th year of the war. The officer called the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov a \"great evil\" for the country's defense capabilities and stated that he does not intend to continue his service. 🇺🇦✈️"
date: 2026-07-16T06:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/elizarov-resigns-after-fedorovs-dismissal-en
tags: [pavel-elizarov, mikhail-fedorov, asu, ukraine, military-resignation]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Pavel Elizarov Resigns: 'Fedorov's Removal is an Evil for Defense'

![Pavlo Elizarov, Deputy Commander of the Air and Space Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in military uniform against a neutral gray background — key figure in the news about resignation and criticism of Fedorov’s removal](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/elizarov-ustupil-v-otstavku-posle-uvolneniya-fedorova/elizarov-ustupil-v-otstavku-posle-uvolneniya-fedorova-1.webp)

A significant personnel change has occurred within the Ukrainian military. Pavel Elizarov, Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), has submitted his resignation. He officially announced his decision on the social network Facebook.

### Reason for Resignation

In his statement, Elizarov directly linked his departure to political changes within the defense ministry. According to him, the immediate trigger for his decision was the dismissal of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov. The officer called this event "a great evil for the country's defense capabilities".

Elizarov emphasized that in the fifth year of the war, he made the final decision to leave the army. In his address, he also noted that he has no desire to continue serving under current conditions.

### Reaction and Context

The news of the high-ranking officer's resignation was first reported by the RBC-Ukraine agency. Elizarov's statement became a resonant event, highlighting the depth of disagreements within the military and political leadership of Ukraine against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict.

"Glory to Ukraine!" — with these words the officer concluded his address, despite his decision to leave the armed forces.