Ukraine's ousted defense chief takes advisory post with Italy

Mykhailo Fedorov, ousted as Ukraine's defense minister six weeks ago in a dismissal that sparked thousands of protests across Ukraine, has agreed to become advisor on defense innovation to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, according to reporting from Politico Europe and Le Monde. The appointment signals Italy's willingness to deepen defence ties with Kyiv at a moment when European governments are recalibrating their support for Ukraine and their own security postures. Fedorov's move to Rome represents a notable shift for a figure who, until recently, held one of Ukraine's most sensitive national security portfolios.

His firing prompted widespread public outcry in Ukraine, suggesting he retained significant credibility within military and civil society circles despite his dismissal by Zelenskyy. Italy's decision to bring him into an advisory capacity—specifically on defence innovation, a domain where Ukraine has demonstrated rapid technological adaptation during its ongoing conflict—suggests that Rome sees value in Fedorov's expertise and his apparent independence from the current Kyiv administration. The appointment also reflects Italy's broader strategic interest in maintaining dialogue with Ukrainian figures across the political spectrum.

For Italy, the appointment carries symbolic weight beyond the immediate advisory function. As a NATO member and a G7 power, Italy has navigated competing pressures: supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression while maintaining economic ties to Russia and managing domestic political divisions over the extent of military aid to Kyiv. Fedorov's presence in Rome, advising on defence innovation, positions Italy as a destination for Ukrainian talent and expertise—a role that other European capitals, particularly in Central Europe, have also sought to play. The role also suggests that the Italian government views defence innovation as a domain where Ukraine's real-world experience in modern conflict can inform European security thinking.

The move comes as European governments prepare for what foreign analysts describe as a prolonged period of strategic competition with Russia, requiring sustained investment in defence capabilities and technological development. Fedorov's advisory role, while not a formal government position, places him within Italy's defence establishment and potentially within the networks that shape European defence policy coordination. His previous dismissal from Ukraine's defence ministry, dramatic as it was, has not ended his influence in security circles—a pattern that Politico and Le Monde's reporting suggests reflects the depth of the institutional and personal relationships he has built across the continent.