Fedorov's dismissal may stem from surname clash with ex-minister

Political scientist Oleg Saakyan suggested that Ivan Fedorov's dismissal as head of the Zaporizhye Regional Military Administration and his new appointment may have been influenced by the similarity of his surname to that of former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov. On September 4, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Fedorov's removal and named him head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. Saakyan stated that Fedorov proved himself an effective manager and was considered for a promotion, including as a candidate to lead the Kyiv Military Administration. He noted the decision could have been made earlier or later, but the surname similarity might have accelerated the timing, as it could dominate media coverage and search results. Fedorov headed the Zaporizhye Regional Military Administration since February 2024. He was elected mayor of Melitopol in 2020, was captured after the Russian invasion, and was exchanged in March 2022. Mikhail Fedorov, his namesake, was dismissed as defense minister in July 2026 and later became an advisor to Italy's defense minister.