Ukrainian lawmakers approved a major reshuffle in the country’s wartime leadership, assigning Mykhailo Fedorov to head the Defense Ministry and moving Denys Shmyhal to the Energy Ministry. The change is part of a broader top-level overhaul initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid ongoing military challenges and institutional reforms.
Fedorov takes over Ukraine’s Defense Ministry
On 14 January, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) confirmed Fedorov as Defense Minister with 277 votes in favor, far surpassing the required 226. He replaces Shmyhal, who had held the position since 17 July 2025 after previously serving as Prime Minister from 2020 to 2025.
Fedorov had served as Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Digital Transformation since 29 August 2019. Zelenskyy first proposed his appointment to the defense post on 2 January. Fedorov submitted his resignation from the digital transformation role the following day, as did Shmyhal from the Defense Ministry.
Shmyhal confirmed as Vice PM and Energy Minister after failed first attempt
Also on 14 January, the parliament approved Shmyhal as Vice Prime Minister and Energy Minister with 248 votes. This marked a turnaround from the previous day, when only 210 lawmakers backed his candidacy, falling short of the threshold. After further negotiations, he agreed to combine the Energy Ministry portfolio with the role of First Vice Prime Minister, formally making him the second-highest official in the Cabinet.
Fedorov outlines urgent reforms for military system
According to BBC, Fedorov said his first priority as Defense Minister would be to tackle longstanding issues with Ukraine’s military recruitment offices. He claimed that nearly 2 million Ukrainians are currently wanted, apparently for draft evasion, while about 200,000 individuals are reported to have deserted. Fedorov called addressing these issues “a top priority.”
He further pledged to ensure every brigade is equipped with a sufficient number of drones and announced plans to overhaul the military training system. Additionally, Fedorov emphasized the need for Ukraine to develop laser-guided artillery shells, and to create a domestic version of Russia’s mass-produced Molniya drone.
Ukraine to boost drone warfare with fiber-optic tech and expanded Drone Line, Umerov says
Reshuffle spans military, security, and regional leadership
The latest moves are part of Zelenskyy’s wide-ranging reshuffle at the start of 2026.
- Earlier this month, the President replaced Andrii Yermak with Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Presidential Office, and appointed Oleh Ivashchenko — previously head of the Foreign Intelligence Service — to lead the military intelligence agency HUR.
- Then Vasyl Maliuk resigned as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) but will reportedly remain involved in high-level asymmetric special operations. Zelenskyy appointed Yevhen Khmara as acting SBU chief the next day.
- The State Border Guard Service also saw a leadership change, with Valerii Vavryniuk named acting head. Several oblast military administrations were also restructured.
- Zelenskyy also replaced several regional leaders in charge of oblast military administrations.
Zelenskyy described these sweeping personnel changes as essential to ensure Ukraine is prepared for any future scenarios in the war.
