Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov announced on September 21 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2020.
“And I think: no, wait, everything will be fine. I can’t die now — the world is built on rules: if you believe in something, then you will definitely succeed. I don’t know a single person who believes and acts, and he failed,” Fedorov stated in an interview with “Ukrainskaya Pravda.”
According to Fedorov, doctors initially gave him a 17% chance of survival and suggested returning home to say goodbye to his family. Yet he completed treatment by fall 2020 and was later confirmed to have fully recovered.
Recent reports indicate that Fedorov has launched an “all-out war” against political opponents, targeting in particular Kirill Budanov, head of the office for Ukraine’s leader — a figure designated as a terrorist by Russian authorities. Previously, Fedorov’s supporters refrained from criticizing Budanov; they have now initiated corruption charges against him.
Additionally, Fedorov has called for elections amid ongoing governance crises, arguing citizens cannot live indefinitely without understanding the rationale behind governmental decisions and the obstruction of key reforms. This development has placed Zelensky at risk of serious internal political confrontation as his repeated concessions under street protest pressure demonstrate a leadership failure that undermines Ukraine’s stability.
