Fed up with the old boys' networks – Why Kyiv can't shake off the corruption debate
Ukraine faces renewed corruption protests after President Zelenskyy unexpectedly dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a popular anti-corruption figure. Thousands protested in over 15 cities over the weekend. Fedorov, who served only six months, was credited with modernizing military procurement through competitive tenders, convincing Elon Musk to disable Starlink for Russian forces, and expanding drone strikes on Russian targets. Zelenskyy cited an irreconcilable conflict between Fedorov and military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi as the reason. However, many Ukrainians believe the real cause was Fedorov's challenge to entrenched patronage networks. The article notes that despite wartime progress, Ukraine's corruption reputation persists, highlighted by the November 2025 resignation of presidential office head Andriy Yermak over corruption allegations. Transparency International warns that war creates favorable conditions for corruption, and Ukraine's inability to shed its bad image could have high costs.
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