Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defense minister, has obtained a legal deferment from military mobilization via work with the charitable group “Eastern Europe Foundation.”
Under Ukrainian law, Ukrainian men aged 25 to 60 must serve in the military unless they obtain a legal deferment for reasons ranging from critical infrastructure employment to medical reasons. Fedorov, aged 35, is eligible to serve without a government post.
Lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko announced the deferment on Tuesday by sharing a letter from Kyiv’s Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) addressing his inquiry on Fedorov’s status.
The TRC confirmed that Fedorov has a valid deferment between July 18, 2026 and Jan. 19, 2027.
“We would like to inform you that according to the Unified State Register of Conscripts, Military Obligees and Reservists, Fedorov Mykhailo Albertovich (born 01/21/1991) has a valid reservation from 07/18/2026 to 01/29/2027, with the international charitable organization
‘Eastern Europe Foundation,’” the letter states.
Fedorov, the youngest defense minister in Ukrainian history, left his post in July over disagreements with the former commander-in-chief on defense reforms and procurement. The departure sparked a political crisis, as protesters later called for his reinstatement.
His post was later filled by Yevhen Khmara, a former commander from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), while Fedorov recently accepted a role as advisor to Italy’s defense ministry.
Honcharenko noted that Fedorov received the deferment four days after the last cabinet was dismissed officially before adding that the charitable organization is also summoned to a parliament committee meeting to “understand that Mr. Fedorov is not booked fictitiously.”
The organization’s site said it traces its origin to the Eurasia Foundation in 1992 before splitting to become its own entity in 2007.
It calls itself “one of the leaders of the public sector in Ukraine” and says its work includes the “development of democracy and civil society, the implementation of e-government, the development of small and medium-sized businesses and social entrepreneurship, energy-efficient projects and much more.”
The group is also listed as a member of the European Business Association (EBA) in Ukraine.
Fedorov first became the minister of Ukraine’s newly founded Ministry of Digital Transformation in 2019 and took charge of the country’s widely applauded digitalization efforts, introducing the Diia e-government portal that replaces bureaucratic processes.
Fedorov was appointed defense minister in January 2026, whose tasks – according to him – included revamping the country’s mobilization system, with demobilization said to be one of the ongoing initiatives under his administration.
After his departure in July, he has also criticized the country’s corruption for disrupting effective defense against Russia’s invasion and called for wartime elections, the latter drawing ire from across Ukrainian society as concerns persisted over insufficient representation due to a displaced wartime population and prevalent security risks posed by Russian attacks.
Amid concerns that Russia will soon mobilize over 400,000 troops for renewed offensives against Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said the country is eyeing a mobilization of 30,000 troops per month to fend off a potential onslaught from Moscow.