Ukraine's ousted defense chief joins Italy as strategic adviser

Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced Friday that he has accepted a position advising Italy's defense minister, according to Politico Europe and the Local Italy. Fedorov, 36, was dismissed last month in circumstances that sparked rare wartime protests in Kyiv and raised questions about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle and military strategy.

The appointment places Fedorov in Rome's defense apparatus at a moment of heightened European security focus. Italy, a NATO member and G7 power, has positioned itself as a bridge between Atlantic and Mediterranean security interests. Fedorov's experience in Ukrainian military procurement, defence innovation and wartime logistics could shape how Rome approaches both its own defense modernisation and its coordination with Kyiv on weapons supply and military aid.

The move reflects Italy's broader engagement with Ukraine's political and military establishment. Rome has hosted Ukrainian officials and delegations throughout the war and has contributed to military aid packages, though Italian support has sometimes trailed other major NATO allies. Fedorov's presence in the defense ministry may signal Italy's intent to deepen its involvement in Ukrainian strategic planning and to position itself as a trusted confidant to Kyiv's leadership.