Zelensky fires popular defence minister

**Pete Ross** (0:00)
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.
I'm Pete Ross, and in the early hours of Thursday the 16th of July, these are our main stories. Ukraine's President Zelensky has sacked his popular defence minister, triggering criticism and some incredulity at a time when Kiev is taking drone warfare deep into Russia. Iran says it's in an existential struggle with the US, and its security is dependent on controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Also in this podcast, joy in Argentina.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:35)
I'm really happy, I'm thrilled, and it ended in victory, because Argentina always turns the game around in the final minutes.

**Pete Ross** (0:42)
After the men's national football team defeat England 2-1 in the semi-final of the World Cup, and...
Scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they've discovered a new species of monkey. Being the defence minister of a country at war is a difficult job, but Ukraine's Mykhailo Fedorov seemed to be doing well, leading the military's technology push and winning over the public with a start-up-inspired management style that flew in the face of the establishment. But after only six months in the role, and with Ukraine on the front foot against Russia, Mr Fedorov is stepping down. BBC Monitoring's Vitaly Shevchenko told me why he'd been pushed out.

**Vitaly Shevchenko** (1:24)
And very few people outside the corridors of power in Kiev know exactly what happened. On the face of it, it's a very puzzling decision. Because just two days ago, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president, he said that the Ukrainian Army's position currently is the best ever.
And this is, to a huge extent, thanks to Mykhailo Fedorov, a youthful, digital-minded reformer at just 35 He was the youngest minister. And he's done so much to bring Ukraine to the very edge of digital public services. And he was trying to do the same in the Army.
One of the things he's achieved, is greatly increased the role of drones. And as will, as everyone, including the Russians, will know, this is working rather well for the Ukrainians. There's been various leaks and reports and rumours, including that he's being so reform-minded, he's upset too many apple carts by fighting corruption. Other people say that he's been in conflict with Aleksandr Sirsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army. Other people say that he's been spending too much money. But the fact is, I've seen so many expressions of support for him in Ukraine and outside of Ukraine, saying, well, this is a huge mistake. It's a shot in the foot. And the person who is supposedly going to replace him, the current interior minister, Ihor Klimenko, he's got a completely different standing and his image is slightly stodgy.

**Pete Ross** (3:22)
You've talked about the positive impact that he has had, Fedorov, on the Ukrainian war effort. What's likely to happen now? He's leaving the post.

**Vitaly Shevchenko** (3:33)
Well, in his farewell message on social media, he's saying that he is planning to continue working as part of what he calls the mission to win and he says to be continued. On the one hand, six months, especially for the defence minister, is such a short time.
On the other hand, President Zelensky would be keen to show that he is doing something to continue reforms, continue taking Ukraine into the future. But how long, how deep is Volodymyr Zelensky's substitution bench is a big question. He can't keep replacing key figures endlessly.

**Pete Ross** (4:22)
Very briefly, how's this news actually gone down in Ukraine?

**Vitaly Shevchenko** (4:26)
Consternation, shock, nobody is quite certain why this is happening because people like Mykhailo Fedorov, they are popular. They've been seen as doing really, really well.

**Pete Ross** (4:40)
Vitaly Shevchenko.
The latest from the Strait of Hormuz now as the US and Iran continue to wrestle for control there, amid escalating strikes from both sides. The US military has announced that on Wednesday night, it conducted yet more strikes against Iran's coastal defence system. And President Trump again insisted that Iran wanted to reach a settlement. The Islamic Republic of Iran is not happy right now.

**Sebastian Usher** (5:06)
It should have been done 47 years ago. It should have been done at least during the 47 year period.

**Pete Ross** (5:12)
And it wasn't that the presidents didn't do what was right.

**SPEAKER_5** (5:14)
They should have done it a long time ago.

**Sebastian Usher** (5:16)
It would have been much easier.

**SPEAKER_2** (5:18)
They want to settle so badly.

**Sebastian Usher** (5:19)
They don't like what we're doing.

**SPEAKER_5** (5:21)
And they do want to settle. We'll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off.