Mikhail Fedorov, former Minister of Defense of Ukraine, has officially confirmed that he has become an advisor to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on defense innovation matters. He announced this in his Telegram channel, as reported by RBC-Ukraine. According to Fedorov, he and his team have embarked on an international trip dedicated to developing new projects, and the first meeting within this framework was a conversation with the Italian head of the defense department. In the published photo, two men are shaking hands against the backdrop of the NATO flag and the Italian state flag with its coat of arms, consistent with the format of an official bilateral meeting.
Appointment and Format of Cooperation
"The first meeting — with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. I thanked Guido for his personal support and the offer to become his advisor on defense innovation. I am grateful for the trust and strategic partnership," Fedorov wrote. Thus, his role is not tied to direct command or operational functions within the Italian military department, but is of a consultative nature, focused on the technological and innovation track. According to him, the Italian side views this as an element of strategic partnership, not a one-off action.
Emphasis on Ukrainian Experience and Projects
Fedorov emphasized that he is ready to share with partners "the unique Ukrainian experience of technological warfare." At the same time, he explicitly stated that the main focus of his work remains projects in Ukraine, which strengthen the country's defense capabilities and help attract international resources. "The future of defense belongs to countries that can quickly test and scale new solutions, combining technology with strong manufacturing," the former minister declared. He also noted that Ukraine's experience could become the foundation of a new defense model for Europe, which effectively positions Kyiv as a provider of battle-tested solutions in the field of defense tech and digitalization.
Context: Refusal to Continue Working in the President's Team
The appointment to the Italian position comes against the backdrop of other public statements by Fedorov. Previously, he said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself should explain what he knew about the corruption situation in his closest circle. In addition, it was reported that Fedorov received four offers regarding further work in the president's team, but declined all of them. In this logic, the move to an international consultative format in Italy appears as a continuation of his course of working outside the Ukrainian government, while maintaining influence on the defense-technology agenda.
Significance for Europe and NATO
Cooperation with Italy — one of the key states of NATO and the EU — expands the channels through which Ukrainian defense-technological experience can be transformed into European projects. As follows from Fedorov's statements, new promising projects at the European level in the fields of digitalization and defense tech are planned. For Rome, this is access to practical experience of rapid technology adaptation under conditions of real conflict; for Ukraine, it is an additional lever for attracting resources and consolidating its role in the emerging European defense model. The specific parameters, timelines, and budget of future joint projects were not disclosed at the time of publication.
