Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has said he offered former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov a position as his adviser, Reuters reported.
On 16 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had decided to dismiss Fedorov after a prolonged conflict between him and then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The decision triggered mass protests in Kyiv, Lviv, and even the frontline city of Sumy. Demonstrators gathered to support Fedorov despite the risk of Russian KAB glide bomb and FPV drone attacks. Nevertheless, Zelenskyy did not reverse his decision.
The minister who returned the initiative to Ukraine
"I called him the day after his dismissal and said: When do you want to come to Rome and work with me as an adviser?" Crosetto said.
Asked how Fedorov reacted, Crosetto said the former minister was "moved" and regarded the offer as "a demonstration of esteem and friendship."
Crosetto praised Fedorov as "one of those people who completely rewrote the rules of the game on the battlefield."
According to the Italian defense minister, Fedorov helped return the battlefield initiative to Ukraine by fundamentally changing the way the war was fought through the use of new technologies.
Recognition of Fedorov's work was also reflected in the EU's reaction to his dismissal
European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius said Fedorov's removal as Ukraine's defense minister came as a major surprise, according to Europeiska Pravda.
According to Kubilius, the EU had worked closely with Fedorov both before and after he became defense minister. He noted that significant progress had been made during that time, particularly in developing Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities and expanding its defense industrial production.
Fedorov's legacy at the Defense Ministry
On 15 July, Fedorov summarized the achievements of his tenure as defense minister.
Among them, he said his team had succeeded in cutting off Russian forces' access to Starlink, significantly reducing their ability to wage effective drone warfare.
He also highlighted the "Logistics Lockdown" program—a separately funded initiative that, combined with improved procurement and support for Ukraine's top combat units, disrupted Russian logistics and began isolating occupied Crimea.
Another achievement, he said, was introducing an After Action Review (AAR) process following every large-scale Russian strike. During his tenure, the interception rate for Russian drones increased from 83% to 91%, while the interception rate for cruise missiles rose from 47% to 87%.
What remained unfinished
Fedorov acknowledged that several major reforms remained incomplete.
These included completing the organizational transformation of the Ministry of Defense in line with NATO standards, moving all procurement to competitive tenders, and building a culture of accountability for decision-making.
Zelenskyy reportedly offered Fedorov several other government positions, but he declined them
Explaining his decision, Fedorov said that among the positions that "truly determine the course of the war," only that of the defense minister carries the authority necessary to drive meaningful change.
In his view, no other public office has sufficient authority to eliminate corruption in defense procurement, complete the military transformation he initiated, plan asymmetric operations against Russia, or eradicate what he described as a culture of dishonesty and irresponsibility within the system.
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