Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov to Advise Italian Counterpart on Defense Innovation

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced Friday he has accepted an offer to advise Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on defense innovation.

“I thanked Guido for his personal support and offer to become his adviser on defense innovations,” Fedorov wrote in a Facebook post after meeting Crosetto. “In this role, I will help Italy develop modern warfare technologies, improve the defense sector and adapt to new security challenges in the world.”

A member of Fedorov’s team told POLITICO that the former minister will combine the advisory role with his main focus on setting up a defense investment fund in Ukraine.

Fedorov, who called for wartime elections after being pushed out of government in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest reshuffle, also stressed that he is not decamping to Rome. “My main focus remains unchanged,” he wrote, adding he will continue working in Ukraine on projects to strengthen the country’s defense and attract international resources.

Crosetto first offered the position in July, saying he called Fedorov the day after his dismissal and asked: “When would you like to come to Rome to work with me as an adviser?” He praised Fedorov as an innovator who had “completely changed the rules of the game on the battlefield.”

The former minister was dismissed in mid-July after roughly six months at the helm of Ukraine's defense department amid tensions with the country’s military leadership and policy disputes. His removal triggered rare wartime protests.

He has since sharpened his criticism of President Zelenskyy, calling for elections earlier this month despite Russia’s ongoing invasion and warning that Ukrainians “cannot endlessly live” without understanding how major decisions are made.

Zelenskyy has rejected the idea, warning that wartime elections could “destroy” the country.