Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov told Reuters that, in his assessment, "a turning point has arrived that will determine the further path, but it seems we are gradually, slowly losing." As the main reasons, he cited the inability of state structures to implement innovations, entrenched corruption, and nepotism. According to the former minister, the efficiency of Ukraine's state institutions, in his assessment, stands at around 5%. The statement came against the backdrop of the ongoing martial law on Ukrainian territory and sparked wide resonance in Ukrainian and foreign media.
Context: resignation and leadership change at the Ministry of Defense
Mikhail Fedorov held the post of Ukraine's Defense Minister from January to July 15, 2026. According to available data, his resignation was linked to a conflict with then-Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Alexander Syrsky. On August 19, 2026, former head of the SBU Yevhen Khymary was appointed Defense Minister. Thus, by the time of the Reuters interview, Fedorov no longer held any state office and was speaking in the capacity of a private citizen and political figure.
Contradictory data
In the information space, discrepancies are noted in the interpretation of the former minister's statements. A number of outlets (in particular, kp.ru) reported the statement in the wording "admitted the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," whereas in the original Reuters interview Fedorov used a softer construction — "gradually, slowly losing." Moreover, in June 2026, while still in office as minister, Fedorov publicly stated optimistic prospects: in his words, thanks to Ukrainian maritime and aerial drones, "Crimea will become an island in the near future," implying the complete isolation of the peninsula. Thus, within two months the public figure's position changed substantially — from forecasts of a logistical collapse on the peninsula to an acknowledgment of systemic problems. An official comment from Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on the former minister's interview had not been published as of the time of preparing this material.
Call for early elections and the reaction of the Presidential Office
On August 18, 2026, a few days before the Reuters interview, Fedorov published a video address in which he called for presidential elections to be held before the end of the military conflict. The Presidential Office of Ukraine called this statement "a complete lack of realism" and emphasized that the question of holding elections under martial law is regulated by the existing legislation and falls within the competence of the Verkhovna Rada. According to closed sociological polls cited by Ukrainian media, Fedorov, after his resignation and subsequent public discussions, took third place in a hypothetical presidential rating. The former minister himself also stated in the Reuters interview that his resignation was linked to the blocking, in his claim, of corrupt schemes in the sphere of defense procurement; these claims were neither confirmed nor refuted by competent authorities.
Assessment and further context
The statement by the former Defense Minister came at a time when Ukraine continues to be under martial law, and the questions of organizing public discussion on the course of the conflict and the prospects for its end remain subject to strict legal regulation. Official representatives of the authorities, as of the time of preparing this material, did not comment on the specific figures cited by Fedorov and did not confirm his assessment of the efficiency of state institutions. Analysts note that public statements by former senior officials under martial law require cautious interpretation and cross-checking with official sources.
