Zelenskyy suggests Fedorov become new Minister of Defense

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov become the new head of the Ministry of Defense.

Zelenskyy announced this in his traditional evening video address, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

"I suggested that Mykhailo Fedorov become the new Minister of Defense of Ukraine. He is deeply involved on the issues of the drone line, works effectively on the digitalization of state services and processes," he said.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the current Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal "will remain on the team."

He was offered another axis of work, no less important for the stability of the state.

The Head of State emphasized that in 2025 the Ministry of Defense produced good results, in particular, in December the order for the production of interceptor drones was fulfilled - more than 1 thousand units per day.

The President added that personnel changes will continue on January 3, and new decisions in this axis are currently being prepared.

On Friday, January 2, Zelenskyy also signed decrees dismissing Kyrylo Budanov from the post of head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and Oleh Ivashchenko from the post of head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

After that, decrees appointing Budanov to the post of head of the President's Office, and Ivashchenko to the post of head of the Defense Intelligence appeared on the website of the President's Office.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on Friday, Zelenskyy said that he had offered Budanov the post of head of the President's Office.

Budanov later announced that he had accepted the President's offer to head the President's Office.

On January 2, President Zelenskyy signed a decree appointing a new head of the Office of the President. Kyrylo Budanov has occupied the post. Oleh Ivashchenko, the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, has replaced Budanov in his post as the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Also on January 2, Zelenskyy instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, to present candidates to replace the head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhii Daineko.