Italy offers advisory role to ousted Ukrainian defence minister

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has offered former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov a position as an adviser to Italy’s Ministry of Defence following his recent departure from office.

Crosetto revealed the offer during an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica published on July 25, highlighting the strong bond and mutual respect between the two defence leaders, Reuters reports.

"I called him the day after his dismissal and said: When do you want to come to Rome and work with me as an adviser?" Crosetto said.

When asked about Fedorov's response, the Italian minister noted that the former official was "moved" and viewed the invitation as "a demonstration of esteem and friendship".

Crosetto praised the 35-year-old tech-savvy reformer for his pioneering approach to modern warfare, describing him as "one of those people who completely rewrote the rules of the game on the battlefield". He added that Fedorov played a pivotal role in enabling Ukraine to withstand Russia's invasion and subsequently regain the initiative by reshaping battlefield practices through advanced technologies and boosted drone capabilities.

Fedorov's dismissal earlier this month sparked rare wartime protests in Ukraine, where he had gained widespread recognition for driving defence-sector reforms.

Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered him alternative positions within the administration, Fedorov declined, stating he would not accept any other government role outside of his former post.

By Sabina Mammadli