Italy Appoints Former Ukraine Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as Defense Adviser

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto appointed Mykhailo Fedorov, the former defense minister of Ukraine, as an adviser on modern military strategy and warfare technologies. The arrangement is a private agreement between the two men rather than a formal intergovernmental pact. Fedorov will provide his services without pay and will continue to reside in Ukraine.

Fedorov is recognized as a primary architect of Ukraine's drone warfare capabilities. He was removed from his post by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July following disputes with military leadership regarding conscription efforts and the prioritization of machines over human personnel in combat.

The appointment aims to help the Italian military accelerate equipment procurement and adapt to 21st-century warfare. While some defense experts praised the move as a chance to learn from Ukraine's "tragic laboratory of innovation," the decision faced criticism from far-right politicians and anti-establishment media in Italy, who argued the focus should remain on domestic interests.