Fedorov: Ukraine Must Strike Russian Launch Positions
The former defense minister revealed that on the day he was dismissed, a domestically developed missile project that had been in the works for ten years was successfully tested.
The former defense minister revealed that on the day he was dismissed, a domestically developed missile project that had been in the works for ten years was successfully tested.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that Ukraine should abandon its exclusive reliance on air defense systems like Patriot and focus on striking Russian launch positions directly with its own ballistic missiles. In an interview held on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a live broadcast on a YouTube channel moderated by his former associate Serhiy Sternenko, Fedorov said that the pace of producing interceptor missiles for the Patriot system lags behind the speed at which Russia manufactures its missiles.
"The best weapon is to hit the launch site immediately with your own ballistic missile," Fedorov said, adding that such a strike gives a 90% probability that the entire enemy crew will be killed. He believes this strategy is more effective than attempting to intercept Russian missiles in the air, especially given the chronic shortage of Patriot systems available to Ukraine.
Fedorov revealed that on the very day of his dismissal, July 15, 2026, Ukraine successfully tested a domestic missile project that had been in development for a full ten years but had not previously yielded a usable result. He cited poorly defined technical requirements and an inadequate development team as reasons for the years of failure.
"We tested it quite successfully and hit the target with almost no deviation from the trajectory," Fedorov said. "Now we need to finish this phase, conduct all remaining tests, and move on to combat use."
The former defense minister advocates a model in which Ukraine would have several competing ballistic missile manufacturers to reduce costs and increase production. "The future belongs to cheap missiles, very cheap missiles," he said, adding that ideally they should also be linked to artificial intelligence systems. He also noted that other, as-yet-unannounced operations are underway to disrupt and delay Russian launches.
Fedorov's dismissal sparked a wave of protests across Ukraine. Thousands of people took to the streets of Kyiv and other cities demanding his reinstatement as minister. "I didn't expect people to chant my name at the protests," Fedorov admitted. "But for me, it's also a sign that the Russians haven't managed to take our democracy hostage, that people are still active, that they want change and are following everything happening in the country despite the shelling."
On July 23, 2026, Fedorov declined President Volodymyr Zelensky's offer to become "Deputy Prime Minister for Military Innovation." Ten days later, on July 30, he stated he was ready to return to his previous post as Defense Minister, claiming that his reforms of the military procurement system had angered powerful interest groups and contributed to his dismissal. He was replaced as head of the Ministry of Defense by Yevhen Hmara, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
According to Fedorov, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine, Ukraine currently has no confirmed Defense Minister, only an acting one. "He participates in government meetings but cannot vote on government decisions," Fedorov explained. "Such a situation can be temporary, but it cannot last long." He stressed the importance of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, voting on the appointment of a Defense Minister after the recess.
Fedorov denied allegations of personal disagreements with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasizing that their difference of opinion was related to the strategy of waging the war in Ukraine. Syrskyi has since publicly apologized to him. "In the end, we will stop the war and achieve results," Fedorov concluded.
