Ukraine's ousted defence chief joins Italy as strategic adviser

Ukraine's ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has accepted an advisory role with Italy's defence ministry, according to the New York Times. Fedorov, who was fired last month—a decision that prompted rare wartime protests in Kyiv—will advise on military innovation and drone strategy, areas where he earned a reputation as a moderniser in the Ukrainian armed forces. The appointment reflects how other NATO and allied militaries are racing to adapt to the tactical and technological changes accelerated by the war in Ukraine.

The New York Times framed the hire as part of a broader Western scramble to understand and absorb lessons from the conflict. Fedorov's expertise in drone warfare and military adaptation makes him a valuable asset to Rome, particularly as Italy weighs its posture on defence spending and technological readiness within NATO and the European Union. The move also signals Rome's confidence in drawing Ukrainian military talent into advisory roles, a practice that underscores the gravitational pull of the war in shaping European defence thinking.

For Lazio and Rome specifically, the appointment carries institutional weight. Italy's defence ministry is headquartered in the capital, and Fedorov's advisory role places him within Rome's strategic apparatus at a moment when Alpine security—the frontier between Italy and the Balkans—has become a flashpoint for arms trafficking, migrant flows, and Russian intelligence activity. The New York Times noted that Fedorov's sacking in Kyiv had been controversial, making his relocation to an advisory post in Italy a notable rehabilitation and a signal of confidence from Rome in his judgment.

The hire also reflects Italy's broader recalibration of its defence posture. As a NATO member and EU state, Italy has historically maintained a lower profile in military matters compared to France or Germany. But the Ukraine war has forced a reckoning: drone technology, cyber warfare, and rapid adaptation to battlefield conditions are now central to European security thinking. By bringing Fedorov into the defence ministry, Italy is positioning itself as part of that learning curve, drawing on the experience of a military that has been forced to innovate under fire. His role as an adviser—rather than a formal appointment—allows Rome to benefit from his expertise while maintaining diplomatic distance from ongoing Ukrainian politics.