Ukraine cut Russian drone connectivity elevenfold and revamped air defense assessments in the first month of work of the renewed Ministry of Defense team, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists dedicated to the first month of work of the renewed team at the Ministry of Defense, Fedorov said the ministry’s top priority was strengthening air defense amid intensified Russian strikes.
“Our primary focus during the first month of work was air defense,” said Fedorov at a meeting with journalists dedicated to the first month of work of the renewed team at the Ministry of Defense.
To adapt to Russia’s evolving tactics, the ministry introduced an After Action Review system, he said. After every large-scale attack, teams from the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force analyze interceptor positioning, Shahed drone shootdowns, ballistic trajectories, the performance of short-range air defense, and the consequences of each strike before deciding what needs improvement.
An electronic system is already in place to analyze all attacks, Fedorov said, with the president holding daily conference calls to review air defense performance and energy infrastructure restoration.
As part of a broader transformation, the ministry pursued an “asymmetrical” approach to leadership by appointing Pavlo Yelizarov as deputy commander of the Air Force. Fedorov said the decision brought in leadership from outside the existing system, while a proper command structure for short-range air defense has now been established.
“We developed a comprehensive national concept for protection against Shahed drones and for short-range air defense operations, and we have begun implementing it,” he said, adding that the first two regional heads of short-range air defense have already been appointed.
According to Fedorov, the selections prioritized managers with experience in drones and modern warfare rather than traditional air defense backgrounds.
The ministry has also enabled regional leaders to analyze air defense effectiveness in real time, strengthening coordination between regional military administrations, the Air Force, and the new command, he said.
Fedorov said Ukraine eliminated the mesh network used by Shahed drones in the north, improving the defense of Kyiv and central regions.
Addressing Russian use of Western technology, Fedorov said the ministry responded quickly to drones equipped with Starlink terminals.
“We reached an agreement with Elon Musk and SpaceX to deactivate Russian terminals,” he said, describing the move as critical for civilian protection and for strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces.
The ministry developed a plan to register Starlink terminals and build an anti-fraud system, he said, noting that discussions with SpaceX were extensive. As a result, Russia was effectively cut off from this connectivity, with the number of Russian livestreams dropping elevenfold and radio-frequency intercepts increasing significantly.
Beyond battlefield systems, the ministry is restructuring itself to operate under a wartime plan aligned with NATO standards, Fedorov said. A new organizational structure is already in place, with further evolution expected.
“Our team came in with a vision: not simply to act as procurement officers or policymakers, but to take real responsibility for the strategic direction of the war,” he said.
Within the next month, the ministry plans to transition to an OKR (Objectives and Key Results) framework, expand data-driven management, and migrate projects to Jira, a project management and issue-tracking tool designed for planning, tracking, and releasing software or managing workflows.
On procurement, Fedorov said the team moved quickly to address traditionally low first-person view (FPV) drone deliveries in February. The ministry analyzed the performance of unmanned systems and formed first-quarter procurement requirements based on effectiveness data.
“Procurement must be data-driven to eliminate subjective influence and reduce corruption risks,” he said, adding that the goal is to buy systems that “actually fly and deliver combat effectiveness” while eliminating ineffective solutions. A new “synchronization matrix” will soon allow visibility into the effectiveness of every crew and every drone, he said.
Fedorov said Ukraine secured a historic support budget from partners at the Ramstein meeting after changing its approach to cooperation. The ministry presented a war plan alongside concrete projects and operations, securing funding for drone assault units, baseline drone equipment for brigades, operational-depth drones, and additional PAC-3 interceptor missiles from European partners.
The defense ministry is also advancing digital transformation, including the creation of a vertical of digital officers across the armed forces. The first digital officer has already been appointed, with each corps and brigade to follow, he said. Work also continued on deferment procedures, eliminating queues at territorial recruitment centers.
In the economic warfare domain, Fedorov said the ministry is working to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet and restrict oil refining. He said Russia is financing missile production through increased crude oil exports, while its budget deficit continues to grow.
“We must continue applying pressure because we are approaching a pain point,” he said.
The ministry is also establishing centers of excellence across key technology domains, including drones, Middle Strike, Deep Strike, and artillery, aimed at continually analyzing the next steps in the war of technologies.
Finally, Fedorov said Ukraine critically lacks PAC-3 interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic threats and is discussing joint consortia with partners to accelerate production. Ukraine also has the potential to develop its own counter-ballistic systems and missiles, he said, though such projects are complex and require time.
“But Ukraine must develop its own capabilities,” he said.