The Deputy Commander of the Air Force filed a report: the reason was Fedorov
16 July 10:13
Pavlo Yelizarov, Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, submitted his resignation from military service following the decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The officer publicly explained his position, stating that personnel changes could negatively impact the country’s defense capabilities. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing Pavlo Yelizarov’s Facebook post.
Why Pavlo Yelizarov Resigned
Colonel Pavel Yelizarov announced that he had already submitted an official report requesting his discharge from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In his post, he explained the reason for this decision.
“Unfortunately, in the fifth year of the war, I have written a report requesting my discharge from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I believe that the removal of M. Fedorov is a great harm to the country’s defense capabilities. Glory to Ukraine!” Yelizarov wrote.
The military officer also attached a photo of his resignation report to the post, in which he specifically noted that his decision was directly linked to the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of defense minister.
Yelizarov: Blocking reforms could cost Ukraine dearly
In the text of the report, Pavlo Yelizarov noted that he considers Mykhailo Fedorov to be the initiator of important reforms in the field of air defense.
According to the officer, halting these changes could have serious consequences.
He stated that blocking reforms in the field of air defense could lead to numerous civilian casualties and widespread destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure.
Who is Pavlo Yelizarov
Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov was appointed deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in January 2026.
In this role, he was responsible for developing the so-called “small-scale” air defense system, which involved the extensive use of modern technologies to combat Russian drones.
The appointment was signed by then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov’s resignation sparked a wave of reactions
The decision to change the leadership of the Ministry of Defense caused a broad public outcry.
The day before, Mykhailo Fedorov himself confirmed his dismissal and published a comprehensive final report on his achievements in office. Among his achievements, he cited the scaling up of drone production, procurement reform, the development of the air defense system, international defense agreements, and the launch of new programs for the Ukrainian army.
Following this, a number of military personnel, volunteers, and public figures criticized the personnel changes, and veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi called on citizens to participate in a peaceful protest in Kyiv.
Social media is also buzzing with discussions about the possible consequences of the leadership change at the Ministry of Defense.
As is known, on Thursday, July 16, parliament is set to consider and vote on the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to several media outlets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not nominate Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for this position in the new government.
Instead, he will propose that Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko head the Ministry of Defense.
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