Significant changes are brewing in the Ukrainian government. The incumbent head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Igor Klimenko, has become the candidate for the post of Minister of Defense, replacing Mykhailo Fedorov. This decision by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is aimed at solving one of the country's most acute problems — bringing order to mobilization.
This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a source in the faction of the Servant of the People party.
Zelenskyy's Strategy: Linking the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense
Interviewees explained the logic of the head of state. The President is counting on synergy between the law enforcement agencies. Since Klimenko's ally, Ivan Vyhovsky, is set to become the new head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zelenskyy hopes that their joint work will allow for the effective reform of the conscription and mobilization process.
This step is intended to eliminate systemic failures that have been criticized by the public and the military for a long time.
Reasons for Mykhailo Fedorov's Resignation
The change of the Minister of Defense was the result of a serious strategic review. RBC-Ukraine sources revealed that the decision to dismiss Fedorov was made after a meeting of the Servant of the People faction. The main argument was the existence of different visions of conducting the war between the Minister of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky.
Disagreements on key issues of army management became incompatible with the current situation, forcing the President to make personnel changes.
Context: Government Restart
Events surrounding the Ministry of Defense are taking place against the backdrop of a general update of the Cabinet of Ministers. The process of restarting the government began on July 12, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko. After that, the intention to update the composition of the government was announced.
The Verkhovna Rada has already supported Sviridenko's resignation, which legally meant the termination of the powers of the entire Cabinet of Ministers. It is expected that on July 16, parliament will appoint a new Prime Minister — Serhiy Koretsky — and approve the updated composition of the government, in which Igor Klimenko will take the key defense seat.
