Ousted Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine is ‘slowly losing’ the war against Russia

Ousted Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Reuters that Ukraine is 'gradually, slowly losing' the war against Russia, blaming a lack of unified strategy, corruption, and slow adoption of new technology like AI-controlled drones and interceptor missiles.

Fedorov, who was dismissed in July 2026 after clashing with then-commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky, said the Ukrainian state operates at only '5% effectiveness.' Zelensky's office responded that Fedorov spoke positively about the war's progress as recently as his own tenure as defense minister.

His dismissal triggered protests, and Fedorov has since gained political traction, placing third in a private presidential poll and calling for elections before the war ends — a proposal Zelensky's office dismissed as showing 'a complete lack of realism.'

The full dispatch is available from the source below.