Zelensky’s wonder-boy former defense minister goes rogue

Mykhailo Fedorov rocketed to prominence as a driving force in Ukraine’s pioneering use of drones in the fight against Russia, eventually becoming the country’s third defense minister of the war.

Since being removed from that role last month, the wonder boy adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a sharp turn against the administration he long served, calling for elections and launching accusations of corruption and mismanagement. 

Ukrainian lawmakers say the 35-year-old Fedorov seems to be trying to carve out a political lane separate from his longtime boss. But they worry he’s playing into Russia’s hands. 

“During the war, things are very black and white — something that is helping us to win the war, and something that is the opposite, is not helping,” said Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian lawmaker with the opposition Holos party. “So, Fedorov was helping us to win the war for the last almost five years, and I think calling for the elections is the opposite, is not helping that.”

Fedorov’s call for new elections, in a video posted to YouTube last week, was the culmination of weeks of political intrigue and public outcry following his dismissal on July 15, after just six months on the job. 

Thousands of protesters turned out across the country, calling for the minister’s reinstatement, with the biggest crowd gathering around the presidential office building in Kyiv. They also demanded that Zelensky fire Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander in chief of the armed forces, who had reportedly been feuding with Fedorov. 

Zelensky sacked Syrskyi on July 21 but didn’t reverse his dismissal of Fedorov. During a meeting with reporters on Saturday, Zelensky said he offered Fedorov four other positions in the........

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