Zelensky has decided to replace Ukraine’s defense minister

Ukraine’s new defense minister will be Mykhailo Fedorov, the minister of digital transformation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this on his Telegram channel.

“I have decided to change the way Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense operates. I have proposed that Mykhailo Fedorov [the minister of digital transformation] become the new defense minister,” he said.

Zelenskyy replaced the defense minister in the summer of 2025, appointing Denys Shmyhal to lead the ministry. Shmyhal had previously served as the country’s prime minister. He replaced Rustem Umerov, who now heads Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and also leads the Ukrainian delegation in peace talks.

According to Zelenskyy, after the reshuffle Shmyhal will “remain on the team.”

On January 2, Zelenskyy also proposed that Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, lead the President’s Office, replacing Andriy Yermak, who was removed from the post amid a corruption scandal. The intelligence chief agreed to take the position, saying it was an honor and a responsibility, “at a historic time for Ukraine,” to focus on strategic security issues.

Later, Zelenskyy said that Budanov’s successor as head of the Main Intelligence Directorate would be Oleh Ivashchenko. Previously, Ivashchenko led the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

It was also reported earlier that Valerii Zaluzhnyi is preparing to leave his post as ambassador and return to Ukraine.