Italian Defense Minister Offers Advisory Role to Mykhailo Fedorov

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has offered Ukraine’s former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov an advisory position in Rome, citing his contributions to military innovation. According to Reuters, Crosetto said that he contacted Fedorov the day after his dismissal from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I called him the day after his dismissal and asked: ‘When do you want to come to Rome and work with me as an advisor?’” the Italian minister said. Crosetto noted that Fedorov was “touched” by the proposal and viewed it as a gesture of respect and friendship. The Italian official praised Fedorov as a driving force behind military innovations, describing him as someone who “completely rewrote the rules of the game on the battlefield.” According to Crosetto, Fedorov’s implementation of new technologies transformed combat tactics, aiding Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion and subsequent efforts to regain the initiative. Fedorov rejects domestic cabinet post The international offer emerges shortly after Fedorov rejected a proposal from President Volodymyr Zelensky to join the government as deputy prime minister for military innovations. Zelensky had publicly confirmed the offer during a press conference on Thursday, stating the role would involve coordinating technological initiatives with the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, and the president. Other Topics of Interest Russian Strike on Ukraine Arms Expo Kills Employee of Polish Defense Firm A Russian ballistic missile strike on a defense industry event in the Kyiv region killed 10 people on Friday and injured nearly 100. In a written response shared with journalists, Fedorov thanked Zelensky but stated he would not accept any government position other than a reinstatement as defense minister. Fedorov argued that only the positions of president, defense minister, and commander-in-chief hold the necessary authority to shape the course of the war. He stated that a different cabinet role would not provide the mandate required to tackle procurement corruption, transform the military, or execute the asymmetric operations his team had initiated during his tenure. “For me, it was never about the title or status – it has only ever been about having a real impact on the outcome and bringing Ukraine closer to victory,” Fedorov wrote. Fedorov’s departure from the defense ministry on July 15 triggered a week of political and military upheaval in Ukraine. Following his dismissal, Fedorov accused then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky of obstructing military reforms. The dispute sparked nationwide protests demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s removal. On July 21, Zelensky dismissed Syrsky and appointed Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, a move Fedorov publicly supported. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.