This is reported by Kyiv24
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a working meeting on January 14 with the newly appointed Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, during which the priority tasks for the defense ministry were identified.
Priority Steps to Strengthen Defense
Zelensky emphasized that the main focus will be the protection of Ukraine’s airspace. According to him, specific decisions have already been made that need to be implemented as quickly as possible. In addition, among the priorities is enhancing the army’s technological capabilities in cooperation with the military to halt the advance of Russian occupiers, as well as addressing urgent supply issues for the front lines.
“The main thing is to protect the sky. There are specific decisions that must be implemented as soon as possible. Secondly, in coordination with the military, the technological component must be significantly strengthened to stop the advance of Russian occupiers on the battlefield, as well as to resolve problematic supply issues for the front,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel.
An operational audit of defense funding is also planned, after which Fedorov is expected to propose ways to eliminate deficits. A set of solutions is being prepared to increase financial support for military personnel directly on the front lines.
Innovations and Changes in the Mobilization System
The Ministry of Defense under Fedorov’s leadership is set to establish a basic level of support for combat brigades with drones, as well as organize the procurement of specialized unmanned aerial vehicles to strike enemy targets deep within the front. Additionally, systemic solutions will be proposed to address accumulated issues in cooperation with territorial recruitment centers. Decisions have already been made to ensure a more equitable distribution of personnel among combat units, but more significant changes in the mobilization process are expected in the near future to provide better conditions for both defense forces and the country’s economic development.
Zelensky also announced that Fedorov will soon present an updated team for the Ministry of Defense.
It is worth noting that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the appointment of Mykhailo Fedorov as Minister of Defense on January 14. In his first speech, Fedorov outlined his intentions to conduct a thorough audit of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to find additional resources for improving the financial and social support of military personnel.
On January 2, Zelensky proposed that the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov take on the role of head of the defense ministry. Following this, they discussed a new working format for the Ministry of Defense, the main principle of which the president defined as preserving the lives of military personnel through the implementation of modern technologies in the defense sector.