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Dismissal of Ukraine's popular defense minister draws intense criticism

NPR | By Joanna Kakissis,

Leila Fadel

Published July 16, 2026 at 3:44 AM CDT

As Ukraine signs drone deals and awaits licenses for Patriot missiles, the country's popular, tech-savvy defense minister, who helped Ukraine turn the tables on Russia through drone warfare, is fired.

Joanna Kakissis

Joanna Kakissis is a foreign correspondent based in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she reports poignant stories of a conflict that has upended millions of lives, affected global energy and food supplies and pitted NATO against Russia.

Leila Fadel

Leila Fadel is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.