Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov Becomes Adviser to Italy’s Defense Minister

• Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has become an adviser to Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on defense innovation.
• The two have already discussed drones, autonomous systems, air defense and the broader defense-tech ecosystem.
• Fedorov says Ukraine has unique experience in technological warfare that it can share with international partners.
• He plans to continue working in Ukraine on projects aimed at strengthening the country’s defense and attracting international resources.
• Crosetto had publicly offered Fedorov an advisory position shortly after his dismissal from Ukraine’s government, praising his role in battlefield innovation.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has taken up an advisory role with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, focusing on defense innovation. The cooperation will cover drones, autonomous systems, air defense and technologies that could help Italy adapt to the changing nature of modern warfare.

Fedorov Takes an Advisory Role in Italy

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has become an adviser to Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on defense innovation.

Fedorov announced the new role on August 28, saying he was grateful to Crosetto for his trust and for the opportunity to develop a strategic partnership between Ukraine and Italy.

The appointment gives Italy direct access to the experience of a Ukrainian official who worked at the center of the country’s rapid military-technology development during the full-scale war.

What Will Fedorov Advise Italy On?

According to Fedorov, his discussions with Crosetto have already covered several areas:

• drones;
• autonomous systems;
• air defense;
• the defense-tech ecosystem;
• technologies for modern warfare.

These areas have become increasingly important for European militaries as the war in Ukraine demonstrates how quickly battlefield technology is evolving.

Why Italy Is Interested in Ukrainian Experience

Ukraine has spent more than four years adapting its military technology to a high-intensity war against Russia.

Drones, electronic warfare, autonomous systems and rapid software development have become integral parts of the country’s defense.

Italy and other European countries are closely studying these developments as they reconsider their own defense capabilities.

Crosetto Had Already Offered Fedorov the Position

The advisory role was not entirely unexpected.

In July, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he had personally offered Fedorov a position as his adviser shortly after Fedorov was dismissed as Ukraine’s defense minister.

Crosetto said he called Fedorov the day after his dismissal and asked when he could come to Rome to work with him.

Crosetto Praised Fedorov’s Innovation Record

Crosetto described Fedorov as an important driver of military innovation.

According to Reuters, the Italian minister said Fedorov had helped change the rules of battlefield warfare through new technologies and had played a role in helping Ukraine first resist Russia and later regain the initiative.

Fedorov’s Work Goes Beyond Italy

Fedorov said the new advisory role will not mean abandoning his work in Ukraine.

He plans to continue working on projects inside Ukraine aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and attracting international resources.

That creates a potentially unusual arrangement: Ukrainian defense expertise will be shared with a European partner while Fedorov continues to work on Ukrainian projects.

Ukraine Has Become a Defense-Tech Laboratory

The full-scale war has transformed Ukraine into one of the world’s most active environments for testing military technologies under real battlefield conditions.

Drones are continuously adapted to counter new Russian tactics.

Electronic warfare systems are modified as threats change.

Software developers work alongside military units to improve systems rapidly.

Fedorov Was Closely Associated With This Transformation

Before becoming defense minister, Fedorov was one of the leading figures behind Ukraine’s digital transformation and the development of the country’s drone ecosystem.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry previously highlighted his role in launching the Army of Drones, creating strike UAV companies and opening markets for drone, electronic-warfare, ground-robotic and missile manufacturers.

The Brave1 Ecosystem Was One of His Key Projects

Fedorov’s defense-innovation record also includes the development of Brave1, a Ukrainian defense-tech cluster.

When he became defense minister in January, the government said Brave1 included more than 2,350 companies and over 4,900 solutions, with more than UAH 2.6 billion in grants awarded to developers.

Drones Are at the Center of the Cooperation

Drones are one of the clearest areas in which Ukrainian battlefield experience could be relevant to Italy.

Ukraine has developed extensive expertise in using drones for reconnaissance, strike missions and battlefield awareness.

At the same time, Russia has developed increasingly sophisticated counter-drone systems.

Autonomous Systems Are the Next Step

Fedorov and Crosetto have also discussed autonomous systems.

Autonomy is becoming increasingly important because military systems may need to operate in environments where communications are disrupted or human operators cannot maintain continuous control.

The technology is still developing rapidly.

Air Defense Is Another Priority

Air defense is particularly important for Ukraine because Russia continues to use missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Ukraine’s experience in combining different air-defense systems, sensors and increasingly automated technologies could offer lessons for European militaries.

Italy Is Facing a Changing Security Environment

For Italy, the war in Ukraine has changed the way European governments view defense planning.

The country is part of NATO and the European Union and is involved in discussions about increasing European defense capabilities.

Learning from Ukraine’s battlefield experience is therefore becoming strategically relevant.

Europe Wants to Learn From Ukraine

Ukraine has repeatedly called on European partners not only to provide weapons but also to cooperate on defense production and technology.

The new advisory relationship is an example of knowledge moving in the opposite direction as well: Ukrainian experience is being transferred to a European defense ministry.

This Is More Than a Symbolic Appointment

The role has practical responsibilities.

Fedorov says the discussions have already begun and cover specific technologies including drones, autonomous systems and air defense.

That suggests the relationship is intended to influence Italy’s defense planning rather than simply serve as an honorary position.

Fedorov’s View of Future Warfare

Fedorov has argued that the future of defense belongs to countries capable of rapidly testing and scaling new solutions.

He also emphasized the importance of combining technology with strong manufacturing capabilities.

That approach reflects Ukraine’s wartime experience.

Speed Has Become a Military Advantage

Technology changes quickly on the battlefield.

A drone designed to defeat one type of electronic-warfare system may become ineffective after the enemy develops a countermeasure.

This creates a continuous cycle of development and adaptation.

Ukraine’s Advantage Is Its Ability to Test Quickly

Ukrainian defense companies and military units have developed unusually short feedback loops.

A technology can be tested in operational conditions, modified and returned to the field relatively quickly.

That experience is valuable to countries seeking to modernize their own defense industries.

Manufacturing Matters as Much as Software

Fedorov has emphasized that technology must be combined with production capacity.

A sophisticated prototype is of limited military value if it cannot be manufactured at scale.

Ukraine is therefore working to expand domestic defense production alongside technological development.

Italy Could Benefit From Ukrainian Expertise

Italy has a significant industrial base and advanced engineering capabilities.

Combining those capabilities with Ukrainian battlefield experience could create opportunities for new defense technologies and production partnerships.

Cooperation Could Extend Beyond Advisory Work

The initial discussions focus on defense innovation, but the broader relationship could potentially involve companies, research institutions and defense manufacturers.

The current announcement does not provide details of specific future industrial projects.

Fedorov Remains Focused on Ukraine

Despite taking the Italian advisory role, Fedorov says he will continue working in Ukraine.

His stated goal is to support projects that strengthen Ukrainian defense and attract international resources.

This means his new international position is intended to complement rather than replace his Ukrainian activities.

The Appointment Comes After a Major Political Change

Fedorov’s move follows his departure from the Ukrainian government.

On July 14, Ukraine’s parliament dismissed the government, including Fedorov as defense minister.

The political change attracted significant attention because Fedorov had become one of the most prominent figures associated with Ukraine’s defense modernization.

He Was Offered Other Positions in Ukraine

After leaving the Defense Ministry, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered Fedorov several alternative roles, including a position as deputy prime minister responsible for military innovations.

Fedorov said he would not accept another government position unless it was the defense minister’s post.

Italy’s Offer Came Quickly

The timing of Crosetto’s offer was significant.

The Italian minister said he contacted Fedorov immediately after his dismissal.

That demonstrated how highly Italian officials valued his expertise even after he left the Ukrainian government.

Fedorov’s International Reputation

Fedorov has become known internationally as one of the Ukrainian officials most closely associated with digital transformation and military technology.

His work on drones and defense innovation attracted attention from governments and technology companies.

Ukraine’s Defense Experience Is Becoming Exportable Knowledge

Ukraine’s military experience is not limited to weapons or equipment.

The country has also developed knowledge about how to organize rapid innovation, procurement and battlefield testing.

That organizational experience may be useful to European partners.

Italy Is Not the Only Country Interested

Other European governments have increasingly sought Ukrainian expertise in drones, electronic warfare and battlefield technology.

The broader trend reflects Europe’s effort to learn from a war taking place on the continent.

The War Has Changed Defense Innovation

Before the full-scale invasion, defense innovation often moved through lengthy procurement cycles.

Ukraine’s wartime experience has shown the value of much faster development cycles.

Technology may become obsolete within months rather than years.

Traditional Procurement Is Under Pressure

European defense ministries are now reconsidering how quickly they can acquire and deploy new systems.

Ukraine’s model of rapid testing and scaling provides one possible reference point.

Drones Are Changing the Economics of Warfare

One reason drones have become so important is their relatively low cost compared with many traditional weapons systems.

Large numbers can be produced and adapted quickly.

That has forced militaries to reconsider how they spend defense budgets.

AI and Autonomy Are Likely to Become More Important

As drones and other systems become increasingly autonomous, artificial intelligence will play a larger role.

Ukraine is already experimenting with AI-assisted systems across several parts of the defense ecosystem.

This makes the exchange of technological knowledge particularly relevant.

Air Defense Requires a System, Not One Weapon

Another lesson from Ukraine is that modern air defense depends on multiple layers.

Sensors, command systems, electronic warfare and interceptors need to work together.

Technological integration is therefore as important as individual weapons.

The New Adviser Will Focus on These Challenges

Fedorov’s new role places him directly in discussions about the technologies shaping this future.

His experience gives Italy access to a perspective formed under actual wartime conditions.

Italy and Ukraine Are Both Interested in Defense Innovation

The advisory relationship creates a direct channel between the two countries’ defense-technology communities.

That could make it easier to exchange ideas, identify promising technologies and develop future cooperation.

The Partnership Could Benefit Ukraine Too

The relationship is not necessarily one-way.

Ukraine needs international financing, industrial partnerships and access to European markets.

Closer cooperation with Italy could help Ukrainian defense companies and projects connect with Italian and wider European resources.

It Could Strengthen European Defense Cooperation

A closer technology partnership between Ukraine and Italy could also contribute to broader European defense integration.

Ukraine has significant battlefield experience, while European countries have industrial and financial resources.

Combining those strengths could be mutually beneficial.

The Political Context Remains Sensitive

Fedorov’s appointment comes shortly after his departure from Ukraine’s government and amid debate about Ukraine’s political future.

He recently called for preparations for elections, an idea that Ukraine’s presidential office criticized as unrealistic during wartime.

His new Italian role therefore comes at a politically significant moment.

His New Role Is Specifically About Defense Innovation

Despite the broader political context, the position announced by Fedorov concerns defense innovation.

It does not make him a member of the Italian government.

He is serving as an adviser to Italy’s defense minister.

What Fedorov Brings to Italy

His main asset is practical experience.

He has worked on digital transformation, drones, defense technology and the reform of military procurement and innovation.

Much of that experience was developed under the pressure of an ongoing war.

What Italy Can Bring to Ukraine

Italy has industrial capabilities, financial resources and access to European defense networks.

Those could support Ukrainian projects and help transform battlefield innovations into larger-scale production.

The Relationship Could Become Industrial

The most significant long-term possibility may be cooperation between Ukrainian and Italian defense companies.

The current announcement does not identify specific companies or contracts, but defense innovation often requires close cooperation between government and industry.

The Next Phase Will Be Closely Watched

The immediate question is how the advisory relationship develops.

If Fedorov’s expertise influences Italian defense planning, the cooperation could become a model for other European countries seeking direct Ukrainian input.

A New Role for a Ukrainian Defense Innovator

Fedorov has moved from leading Ukraine’s Defense Ministry to advising Italy’s defense minister.

The change reflects both his personal reputation and the growing international value of Ukrainian wartime technological experience.

Ukraine’s Battlefield Experience Is Becoming a European Asset

The most important aspect of the appointment is perhaps what it says about Ukraine itself.

The country is no longer viewed only as a recipient of military technology.

It is increasingly becoming a source of defense innovation and operational knowledge for European partners.

From Ukrainian Battlefield to European Defense Policy

Fedorov’s new position creates a direct bridge between those two worlds.

He will help Italy understand technologies and approaches that Ukraine has been forced to develop under battlefield pressure.

At the same time, he says he will continue working on Ukrainian defense projects and international cooperation.

What This Could Mean for Ukraine and Italy

The new advisory role gives Italy access to Ukrainian expertise in some of the fastest-changing areas of modern warfare, while giving Ukraine another channel for international defense cooperation.

If the relationship develops beyond consultations into joint technology and industrial projects, it could become an important part of the broader European effort to learn from Ukraine’s wartime experience.