KYIV, Ukraine: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview published this week that he was removed from his position mainly because he tried to reform the military's procurement system.

His dismissal came as part of a wider military and political reshuffle earlier this month.

Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology expert seen by many as a reformer during the nearly four-and-a-half-year war with Russia, said his plans faced strong opposition from officials within and around the defense ministry.

He explained that the resistance grew as he pushed for changes to how military supplies were bought and managed.

He said the reforms caused serious dissatisfaction among many people, who then tried to influence decision-making and spread negative views not only around the president but also in the wider media space.

Fedorov, who served as defense minister for six months, said his priority was to introduce a proper tender system for military procurement.

He explained that the goal was to fix the root problems quickly by launching tenders, restructuring the ministry's management system, and selecting staff based on clear goals.

He added that he faced pressure from all sides throughout the process and believed the only way to resolve the issue was to rebuild the system from the ground up.

Fedorov was removed from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's cabinet and replaced by Yevhenii Khmara, the former head of the SBU security service. The reshuffle also included the removal of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

Supporters of Fedorov highlighted his role in improving Ukraine's position on the battlefield, including overseeing strikes on Russian infrastructure. After his dismissal, protests were held for several days, with people demanding his reinstatement.

Zelenskiy said Fedorov had disagreements with Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was later also dismissed.

However, Fedorov said there was no personal conflict between them and described the differences as a clash of views on how to handle the war. He added that the defense ministry had not blocked any decisions made by the General Staff or the Commander-in-Chief.

Fedorov also said that Zelenskiy informed him about his dismissal less than an hour before a meeting of the president's Servant of the People faction in parliament.

"The reason is connected with procurement, tenders, and the fact that we began overhauling the processes in this area," Fedorov said.