In the Verkhovna Rada, a vote took place, resulting in Mikhail Fedorov becoming the new Minister of Defense of Ukraine. This decision was supported by 277 deputies, exceeding the necessary minimum of 226 votes.
Before taking on his new role, Fedorov served as the Minister of Digital Transformation and was the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.
Speaking before the deputies, Fedorov announced his intention to first conduct a financial audit in the Ministry of Defense. "My top priority is to carry out a real financial audit in the Ministry of Defense to understand how we should act this year, considering that the Ministry of Defense's budget is 300 billion hryvnias less compared to last year," he noted.
Additionally, Fedorov promised to reform the training system for Ukrainian servicemen. "Quality training helps reduce losses and increase efficiency. The issue of the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support cannot be ignored. After a comprehensive audit, we will propose a systematic solution to address the accumulated problems and maintain the country's defense capability," added the new minister.
The position of Minister of Defense before Fedorov was held by Denys Shmyhal, who was in this role for only six months since July 2025. According to local media, he may take up the position of the new Minister of Energy.
Furthermore, on January 13, Ukrainian deputies voted for the resignation of Vasyl Maliuk from the post of head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Yevhen Khmara became the acting head of the agency.
