A catastrophic mistake: a number of MPs oppose replacing Shmyhal with Fedorov

This week, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada may consider personnel reshuffles in the Cabinet of Ministers. Among the key decisions is the possible dismissal of Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and the appointment to that post of the current First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov.

The initiative, which is linked to a decision by President Volodymyr Zelensky, is likely to be supported by the president’s parliamentary majority. Davyd Arakhamia, leader of the “Servant of the People” faction, signaled that MPs will vote “yes,” stressing that appointing and dismissing the defense minister is the president’s prerogative and that the faction backs the head of state.

However, the logic of such a reshuffle is raising questions even among some lawmakers—not only in the opposition. A number of deputies say it is premature to change the defense minister now, and that the move looks like personnel turbulence in a critically important sphere.

According to Roman Kostenko, an MP from the Holos party and a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, the ministry’s work under Shmyhal became more systematic and strategic. The committee’s chair, Oleksandr Zavitnevych, also noted that thanks to the minister’s strong managerial stance, several areas of work moved forward.

Fedor Venislavskyi, an MP from “Servant of the People” who also sits on the defense committee, said Shmyhal is “versed in virtually everything” – from weapons models to defense procurement. Solomiia Bobrovska, a Holos representative on the committee, emphasized that the minister had only just begun building a system—from procurement and recruiting centers to staffing decisions and supply issues.

Bobrovska called changing the head of the Defense Ministry a “catastrophic mistake,” saying “now is not the time,” and that interfering with a block that has only begun to work more effectively looks strange against the backdrop of problems the authorities have long failed to solve in other areas. In her view, instead of consistent reform and order, the state is once again betting on loud reshuffles—and risks derailing processes that have already started.

As a reminder, Denys Shmyhal became Defense Minister in July 2025, after previously serving as prime minister. On January 2, 2026, the president proposed that Mykhailo Fedorov head the Defense Ministry. On January 3, the president said he expected the Verkhovna Rada to support Shmyhal’s candidacy for the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.