When Ukraine’s parliament confirmed its new defense minister this January, it made a bet almost no country at war would dare: it handed its military to a tech entrepreneur who has never served in uniform. But Mykhailo Fedorov is no ordinary bureaucrat — years before he ran a ministry, he ran the digital campaign that put Zelensky in office. And after Russia invaded, he pulled off what may be the single most important non-combat move of the war: persuading Elon Musk to flood Ukraine with Starlink, then, later, to switch the Russians off, stalling one of their advances. Now Fedorov inherits the hardest problem Ukraine faces.
The Ukraine War Meets Mykhailo Fedorov
A U.S. Army tank crew assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, maneuvers an M1A2 Abrams tank at a railhead in preparation to transport it to Hohenfels, Germany during a railhead operation, Corbu, Romania, October 24, 2018. The Battalion has deployed to Europe in support of Atlantic Resolve, an enduring training exercise between NATO and U.S. Forces. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jamar Marcel Pugh, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment/ 1st ABCT, 1st CD/Released)
In January of this year, Mykhailo Fedorov was appointed and confirmed as Minister of Defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He was nominated personally by Zelensky, with whom he has been a close partners for several years.
Interestingly, Fedorov does not have a military background. In fact, he specializes in tech and IT. He was appointed as a reform-minded individual with grand aspirations to shake up the bureaucratic inertia found within the Ukrainian Army. One of his main priorities is to increase the use of unmanned systems across all branches of Ukraine’s armed forces to reduce casualties and alleviate the Army’s manpower issues.
Pre-war Career
Vedorov and Zelensky have maintained close ties for many years, long before Russia’s invasion. Before Zelensky’s political career, Fedorov’s company collaborated with the future president’s entertainment enterprise.
When Zelensky launched his 2019 presidential campaign, Fedorov became a central figure in shaping its digital strategy. His success in running a highly effective online campaign contributed to Zelensky’s election victory, after which Fedorov moved quickly into formal politics. He was elected to Ukraine’s parliament in 2019 and soon afterward appointed deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, becoming the youngest cabinet minister in the country’s history at 28.
As minister of digital transformation, Fedorov took on the monumental task of modernizing Ukraine’s public administration. In 2020, he launched the Diia platform, a mobile application that provides citizens with access to government services on their smartphones.
U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Bravo ‘Bad Bet’ Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conduct Table V exercises with the M1A2 Abrams Tank at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 12, 2024. The purpose of the training is to ensure the Abrams were fully functional and fit to fight. The 1st Cavalry Division’s mission is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent, strengthening interoperability with NATO allies and regional security partners, which provides competent and ready forces to V Corps, America’s forward-deployed corps in Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kali Ecton)
Through Diia, Ukrainians could store digital identification documents, pay taxes, and interact with state institutions, thereby drastically reducing bureaucracy. Over time, the platform expanded to include dozens of services and millions of users, becoming one of the most advanced digital governance systems globally. His work in this area helped reshape how the Ukrainian state interacts with its citizens, moving many processes online and improving efficiency.
Fedorov’s Role in Ukraine’s War Against Russia
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Fedorov’s ministry took on an even more critical role. His office became responsible for maintaining government services under wartime conditions while also coordinating cyber defense efforts and mobilizing IT professionals both inside Ukraine and abroad. His greatest contribution to the Ukrainian war effort was convincing Elon Musk to provide Starlink satellite terminals to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which provided a safe and secure base of digital infrastructure. He convinced Musk to shut off Starlink access to the Russians, which briefly hindered their advance in 2025.
Despite being a civilian, Fedorov plays an important role in Ukraine’s military industrial complex. In 2023, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development, and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
He was a key figure in initiatives that expanded the use of drones on the battlefield, including large-scale programs to produce and deploy unmanned systems for the Ukrainian armed forces. He also supported collaborative platforms that connected government agencies, the military, and private-sector innovators to accelerate the development of defense technologies. Through these initiatives, he developed a reputation as a leader capable of bridging the gap between the technology sector and national defense.
Fedorov’s Rise to Prominence
Over the years, Fedorov’s responsibilities expanded. In addition to his role as minister of digital transformation, he was appointed deputy prime minister and later as first deputy prime minister, maintaining a central position within the Ukrainian government.
A U.S. Army driver assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division standbys in the drivers hull of an M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams waiting for further guidance prior to the start of Table VI Tank Gunnery at McGregor Range, New Mexico, Sept. 29, 2023. Gunnery Table VI evaluates crews on engaging stationary and moving targets while utilizing all weapons systems in offensive and defensive positions, ensuring our crews are trained and ready for any mission. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. David Poleski)
He remained one of the few officials continuously involved in Zelensky’s administration from its beginning, which either indicates a strong level of trust in his abilities or behind-the-scenes corruption, as some more cynical commentators have speculated. Either way, his longevity in government and his involvement in both domestic reform and wartime operations contributed to his growing popularity among average Ukrainians.
In 2024, Fedorov was briefly embroiled in a corruption scandal and was stripped of his oversight position over the State Special Communications Service (SSCV). In his defense, Fedorov was likely the victim of a power struggle with Andriy Yermak, the former head of the President’s Office. Fedorov regained public popularity when he opposed Zelensky’s measure to nationalize independent anti-corruption agencies, effectively stripping them of their power. His efforts to reverse course were instrumental in restoring public trust in Zelensky’s Administration after nationwide protests had raged throughout Ukraine.
Appointment as Defense Minister
On January 14, 2026, Ukraine’s parliament approved Fedorov’s appointment as minister of defense, replacing Denys Shmyhal. The decision was part of a broader government shake-up, which resulted in the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov, the former military intelligence chief, as the new Head of the President’s Office. The decision to appoint Fedorov, according to Zelensky, was due to his involvement “in the issues related to the Drone Line and works very effectively on digitalizing public services and processes,” Zelensky said. “Together with all our military, the army command, national weapons producers, and Ukraine’s partners, we must implement defense-sector changes that will be of help.”
A M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams Tank fires at multiple range targets during a range warfighter exercise, April 11, 2021, Fort Hood, Texas. The visit with foreign allies allows the U.S. Army to boost interoperability of staff members and warfighting capabilities with the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Tank. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Melissa N. Lessard)
As Minister of Defense, Fedorov has been a firm advocate for reform within the Ukrainian Army.
His top priority is to streamline the command structure to reduce decision-making time and make Ukraine’s defense forces more fluid.
He is also a strong believer in using drones and other unmanned systems to help alleviate the manpower issues the Army is currently facing on the ground.
After more than four years of combat, the Ukrainian Army is starting to feel the strain of continuous warfare against the numerically superior Russians. Fedorov envisions a fighting force composed of automated systems and drones that can automatically hold off the Russians with minimal manpower necessary, thereby saving Ukrainian lives.
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
