Ukraine's ex-defense minister says Kyiv fights a technological war

In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Mykhailo Fedorov, the former Ukrainian defense minister who was fired in mid-July, described the conflict with Russia as a "technological war." Fedorov, a 35-year-old former tech entrepreneur, was widely credited with designing Ukraine's modern war-fighting strategy, which relied heavily on drones and robots to counter Russia's larger conventional forces. He emphasized that Ukraine must defeat Russia in every technological cycle and make decisions around the clock, while acknowledging that Russia is also innovating rapidly.

Fedorov's dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came after an irresolvable feud with Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The firing sparked protests across the country, and about a week later, Zelenskyy also removed Syrskyi from his post. Fedorov declined to discuss the reasons for his firing with the American audience, but stressed that Ukraine will continue to fight regardless of the circumstances.

Under Fedorov's leadership, Ukraine significantly increased its deep strikes into Russian territory, reportedly tenfold, and expanded its domestic arsenal. Recent developments include a Ukrainian strike on a Russian space agency facility in Samara, about 560 miles from the border, using new Ukrainian-produced Flamingo missiles, as announced by Zelenskyy on social media. Additionally, in June, a Ukrainian defense technology company tested a ballistic missile. Fedorov estimated that a Ukrainian-made ballistic missile could be used to strike targets inside Russia within three to six months.

Ukraine has faced challenges intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, most of which now reach their targets, increasing pressure on Kyiv to develop new air defenses. Fedorov expressed cautious optimism about Ukraine's ability to do so, noting the urgency of the situation. He also interpreted the protests over his removal as a sign of the Ukrainian people's support for democratic values and their commitment to fighting for freedom. When asked about his future in government, Fedorov remained noncommittal, saying "Soon we will see," but affirmed that all his work will be aimed at ending the war and rebuilding Ukraine.