By Rostyslav Averchuk
Lviv (EFE).- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is carrying out a major reshuffle of the government and defense structures, including the proposed appointments of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and Denys Shmyhal as energy minister, as he prepares for the potential failure of the peace effort.
“If our partners do not force Russia to stop the war, we will have to keep defending ourselves, and ‘fresh forces’ will be needed,” Zelenskyy said at a briefing on Saturday evening. “Therefore, I am going to reboot all structures in parallel.”
“If we are faced with a continuation of the war, then our army must very quickly become as technologically advanced as possible,” he added, highlighting the advantages of Shmyhal’s “systematic approach” and Fedorov’s “technological expertise.”
Zelenskyy has already appointed Kyrylo Budanov, former head of military intelligence (GUR), as head of the presidential administration.
As of Saturday, he named Sergiy Kyslytsia, Ukraine’s former United Nations representative and, until recently, First Deputy Foreign Minister, as Budanov’s first deputy.
Without revealing details, the president also announced changes to the heads of at least five regional state administrations and further Cabinet reshuffles. He said he would personally oversee a major overhaul of the defense sector, adding that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would follow once that process is complete. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi will remain in his post for now, Zelenskyy confirmed.
Ministerial changes
The nomination of 34-year-old Fedorov, vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation, surprised many, given his limited experience in traditional defense structures.
However, he has been involved in the state-led initiatives to rapidly scale up production and deployment of drones, a cornerstone of Ukraine’s defense.
Fedorov’s lack of experience within the Defense Ministry could become an advantage in the effort to streamline the ministry, often seen as too slow and non-transparent.
Shmyhal’s proposed move to the Energy Ministry is seen as an attempt to restore order in a sector targeted by Russian attacks and marred by corruption scandals involving the two previous ministers.
Parliamentary approval will be required for both appointments, as well as for changes involving some other key positions.
Controversy over SBU chief
A potential dismissal of Vasyl Malyuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has sparked rare public opposition from the country’s military commanders.
Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of the Army’s Joint Forces; Robert Brovdi, head of drone forces; and Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov Corps of the National Guard, issued statements expressing strong support for Malyuk, citing his agency’s successes and warning that his removal could undermine defense efforts at a critical time.
“Changing the head of the SBU is a risk,” Brovdi said. Prokopenko praised Malyuk’s “sometimes unorthodox methods,” “effective command,” and “unquestioned authority.”
Malyuk is widely credited with overseeing high-impact operations, including maritime drone attacks that weakened Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and the June “Spiderweb” operation that damaged or destroyed dozens of strategic aircraft at bases up to 4,000 km (2,485 miles) inside Russia.
Ukrainian media reports suggest Malyuk has been offered alternative posts, such as head of External Intelligence or Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said parliamentary approval for Malyuk’s removal currently appears “unlikely.”
Reshuffle continues
Some opposition figures have expressed doubts about the wisdom of removing Budanov and Malyuk, leaders of two key intelligence agencies, amid the war, and are wary of Fedorov’s credentials as Minister of Defense.
They also question the overall logic of the reshuffle, arguing that Zelenskyy continues to rely on a too narrow circle of loyalists.
Although on a lower scale, such “rotation” has been customary to Zelenskyy’s presidential tenure, as underlined by the example of Shmygal, who became Minister of Defense after serving as Prime Minister for five years.
Ukrainian analysts also link the changes to shifts in the balance of power following the removal of influential Andriy Yermak from the post of the head of Zelenskyy’s Presidential Office. EFE
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