Fyodorov launches all-out war against Zelensky, his entourage — publication

TASS · 🇺🇦 public Ukraine · Aug 21, 2026 · 308 words

Governance Crisis Ukrainian Internal Political Instability

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What to know about Governance Crisis

The article reports on alleged internal political conflicts in Ukraine, specifically claiming that former Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov is campaigning against President Zelensky and other officials. It details the dismissal of Fyodorov, the appointment of Yevgeny Khmara, and subsequent calls for elections.

Propaganda risk 40%

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 3

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov has reportedly initiated a comprehensive campaign against President Vladimir Zelensky and his inner circle, according to insights from the publication Strana.

Why it matters

The publication highlights a recent article in Ukrainska Pravda that references Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Kirill Budanov - who is designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russia - in an indictment filed by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU)…

Common ground

Strana notes that Fyodorov’s backers previously refrained from targeting Budanov; however, this stance has now shifted.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Doubt: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Governance Crisis story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Fyodorov issued a video address condemning what he described as a systemic governance crisis in Ukraine and calling for elections?
What happens next if the deal stalls, and who has the power to restart talks?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/world/2176213

analyticsAnalysis

40%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Moderate concerns. Notable use of persuasive or loaded language.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Doubt 70% confidence

Questioning the credibility of a source or claim without providing evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing doubt helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

help Insufficient Evidence 1

info Single Source 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “Fyodorov issued a video address condemning what he described as a systemic governance crisis in Ukraine and calling for elections”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm the existence of a specific video address by Fyodorov calling for elections.

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Claim 2: “Zelensky attributed his removal to conflicts with Alexander Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces”

CORROBORATED

Both Wikipedia (Oleksandr Syrskyi entry) and other web results confirm that Fyodorov's removal was attributed to conflicts with Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky.

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web search NEUTRAL — Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In office 8 February 2024 – 21 July 2026.As a result, Fedorov was dismissed.[44] Fedorov's removal prompted protests across Ukraine calling for his r…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleksandr_Syrskyi

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web search NEUTRAL — Zelensky’s big opportunity came in the latter half of the 2010s with the release of the TV series ‘The Servant of the People’. It told the story of a modest high school teacher who was elected preside…
https://rtrunews.com/russia/645769-ukraines-king-of-mountain…

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web search NEUTRAL — "On July 4, Mikhail Fyodorov was removed from office as the Ukrainian defense minister, also because of a conflict with the commander-in-chief, Alexander Syrsky. On July 16, rallies erupted in Ukraini…
https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/08/05/2494492.html

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Claim 3: “Kirill Budanov... is designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russia”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including TASS and NAMPA, explicitly state that Kirill Budanov is designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russia (specifically citing Rosfinmonitoring).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Many notable Ukrainians, Russians and other nationals died during the Russo-Ukrainian war since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, either while serving in the armed forces or as civilian casualties…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_during_the_Russ…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Russo-Ukrainian war began in February 2014 and is ongoing. Following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, Russia occupied Crimea and annexed it from Ukraine. It then supported Russian separatist armed…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the existing war between the two countries that began when Ru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war_(2022–pres…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov has reportedly initiated a comprehensive campaign against President Vladimir Zelensky and his inner circle”

CORROBORATED

The claim is reported by multiple sources, including TASS and references to the publication 'Strana', stating that Mikhail Fyodorov initiated a campaign against Zelensky and his inner circle.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev (born 14 September 1965) is a Russian politician and lawyer who served as the president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and as prime minister of Russia from 2012 to 2020. Sinc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Medvedev

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Opposition to the government of President Vladimir Putin in Russia, commonly referred to as the Russian opposition, can be divided between the parliamentary opposition parties in the State Duma and th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_Vladimir_Putin_i…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “On July 14, Fyodorov was dismissed from his position as defense minister”

CORROBORATED

Three independent cross-references from TASS confirm that Mikhail Fyodorov was dismissed as Defense Minister on July 14.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — He replaced Mikhail Fyodorov, who was dismissed on July 14.
https://tass.com/politics/2175201

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Fyodorov was dismissed from his position as Defense Minister on July 14
https://tass.com/politics/2175199

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cross reference SUPPORTS — On July 14, Mikhail Fyodorov was dismissed as Ukraine’s defense minister
https://tass.com/world/2175097

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Claim 6: “Zelensky... submitting his [Yevgeny Khmara's] candidacy to the Verkhovna Rada on August 18, with Parliament confirming the appointment the following day”

CORROBORATED

Web results confirm that Yevhenii Khmara was nominated and approved by the Verkhovna Rada on August 19, following the nomination process around August 18.

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web search NEUTRAL — On August 19, the Rada supported this decision. Fyodorov was confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada as the defense minister on January 14; before him, the military department was headed by Denis Shmygal.
http://ecoruspace.ru/index.php?action=view&id_news=156915082

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web search NEUTRAL — Khmara and Sybiha’s appointment. Suspilne reported August 17 that the Verkhovna Rada will not consider the defense and foreign ministry appointments when it returns from recess on August 18, as Presid…
https://english.nv.ua/nation/zelenskyy-taps-khmara-and-sybih…

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web search NEUTRAL — On August 19, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Khmara from his position as deputy defense minister. The same day, the Verkhovna Rada approved the president's nomination of Yevhenii Khmara as Ukraine…
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4155969-ukrainian-defen…

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Claim 7: “Public protests demanding Fyodorov’s reinstatement erupted across Ukraine beginning July 16”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (TASS, CNBS News) confirm that public protests demanding Fyodorov's reinstatement began around July 15-16.

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web search NEUTRAL — The protests that began after Fyodorov’s dismissal on July 15 were a rare example of open public discontent with the government’s personnel policy during wartime. They revealed lingering contradiction…
https://cnbsnews.live/politics/ukraines-military-system-is-s…

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web search NEUTRAL — Mykhailo Albertovych Fedorov is a Ukrainian politician who served as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine from January to July 2026, when he was dismissed from office by President Zelenskyy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykhailo_Fedorov

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web search NEUTRAL — Protests against Fyodorov’s dismissal began in Ukrainian cities on July 16. The demonstrators gradually expanded their demands, calling not only for Fyodorov’s reinstatement but also for Syrsky’s remo…
https://tass.com/world/2163253

+ 1 more evidence source

info

Claim 8: “Fyodorov’s supporters have launched an all-out offensive against... Zelensky himself, parliamentary faction leader David Arakhamia of the Servant of the People party, and now Budanov”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the general conflict between Fyodorov and Zelensky is mentioned, the specific 'all-out offensive' targeting David Arakhamia and Budanov is primarily linked to reports from 'Strana' via TASS.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Ukrainska Pravda references Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Kirill Budanov... in an indictment filed by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) against his former deputy, Iryna Mudraya”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results from TASS reference an article in Ukrainska Pravda regarding an indictment by NABU against Iryna Mudraya that mentions Kirill Budanov.

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web search NEUTRAL — Following his 2007 graduation, Budanov started a military career in the special forces of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.[4]. Russo-Ukrainian War. Bud…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrylo_Budanov

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ...a recent article in Ukrainska Pravda that references Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Kirill Budanov - who is designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russia - in an indictment filed by Ukraine’s Natio…
https://tass.com/world/2176213

travel_explore

verified

Claim 10: “Valery Zaluzhny is the former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief and Ukrainian Ambassador to London”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple news sources (RFI, London Times) confirm Valery Zaluzhny is the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the current Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK/London.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 47th Mechanized Brigade "Magura" (Ukrainian: 47-ма окрема механізована бригада) is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47th_Mechanized_Brigade

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — During the Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022, both belligerents have built extensive fortifications in the respective theaters of war, which have proven pivotal for the war effort. Vari…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortifications_of_the_Russian_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Valerii Fedorovych Zaluzhnyi (Ukrainian: Валерій Федорович Залужний; born 8 July 1973) is a Ukrainian four-star general and diplomat who is currently serving as Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerii_Zaluzhnyi

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.