Home › DW       17.07.2026

Why remove the architect of Ukraine's battlefield success? | DW News

The removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has exposed deep tensions inside Ukraine's wartime leadership, after Fedorov accused Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi of dividing the country. Former US Ambassador John Herbst says Zelenskyy removed the man “most responsible for the extraordinary success we've seen on the battlefield" recently. DW spoke with Herbst and military analyst Marina Miron about what the reshuffle means for Ukraine's war effort.

00:00 — Fedorov dismissed: Ukraine's surprise cabinet reshuffle explained 01:04 — John Herbst on why Zelensky made a strategic mistake 02:10 — What procurement and drone reforms did Fedorov push through? 03:18 — How six months of reform created a host of opponents 04:04 — The NABU and SAPO parallel: when Zelensky reversed course before 05:00 — Zelensky's political standing and the scale of public backlash 06:32 — What the next 48 to 72 hours may bring 08:10 — What Fedorov's firing means for the front lines 09:11 — Ursula von der Leyen's drone deal and the awkward timing 10:36 — Marina Miron: two competing military schools inside Ukraine's command 12:16 — Zelensky's broader cabinet reshuffle and presidential authority 13:24 — Was Fedorov's agenda threatening entrenched military interests? 15:21 — What Zelensky is trying to achieve strategically 17:02 — Long-term risks for Ukraine's drone and digital warfare capacity

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