Ukraine’s war didn’t go to plan. Its former defense minister’s career did

Mikhail Fedorov is trading Ukrainian politics for an Italian mission to remake a slow-moving military establishment Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov has suddenly – and rather unexpectedly – become an adviser to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. The news caught many conservative military analysts off guard. Why would Italy want him, and what does Rome hope to gain? Let’s try to make sense of the move without getting carried away. A manager in khaki, not a marshal It should be obvious that Fedorov is no military genius, nor does he possess any particular talent as a battlefield commander. That is simply not who he is. He was never a career officer, and he never made his name drawing thick red arrows across maps of future operations. First and foremost, Mikhail Fedorov is an effective IT executive – and a knowledgeable chief customer for the entire defense industry. His path to that role began as the top digital strategist for Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential campaign, where he built an online campaign network and bet heavily on internet marketing. From there, he went on to create Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and roll out the Diia digital ecosystem, which changed everyday life across the country. In 2026, Fedorov took over the Defense Ministry amid an urgent need to impose order and bring sweeping digitalization to the armed forces. The timing, it seems, could hardly have been better. Read more Rumored Russian draft makes headlines. Ukraine’s real one sparks street clashes Several major changes in the Ukrainian military were introduced with Fedorov’s involvement: Drone procurement for military units was radically overhauled through the launch of a dedicated marketplace designed to minimize red tape. It was a highly unconventional move that significantly shortened the path from manufacturer to frontline unit while opening up a market for many small and relatively young companies.

After drones, the same digital approach began spreading to other parts of the defense industry. Agile management methods were effectively brought into military life, breaking down long-established systems of multistage approval and allowing new ideas to be tested quickly under real battlefield conditions – directly in the trenches. The military opened its doors to software developed by civilian companies. The emphasis shifted toward finding new and unconventional solutions that could be deployed quickly and deliver results immediately, rather than waiting for lengthy testing reports and reviews by specialized military institutes. Of course, Fedorov’s role in these changes should not be overstated. Many of the initiatives that reshaped the Ukrainian military began before he arrived at the Defense Ministry. What he brought was a fresh, digital perspective that helped cut some corners and speed up the adoption of new ideas. There were no combat operations or battlefield triumphs involved. He was a digital-solutions manager who put on a military uniform – focused exclusively on digital systems and a project-based approach to reform. And naturally the process was not without its rough edges. Digitalization remains the only clear success he can point to. Read more Is Europe ready for Ukraine’s defeat? Why Rome wants the “Ukraine playbook” Perhaps that is precisely what Rome needs: not military victories or battlefield credentials, but a fresh, modern approach. That, presumably, is where Italy is placing its hopes. Modern European militaries, including Italy’s, are weighed down by bureaucracy. Decisions on the procurement of new weapons systems and software take years. By the time they are finally approved, technology has already moved on, leaving armed forces to adopt systems that were obsolete before they ever entered service. Fedorov may well be useful to I