Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has come under sharp criticism from domestic press following the appointment of former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov as his adviser on military innovation.
Italian daily newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that bringing the former Ukrainian official into the Ministry of Defence risks turning Italy into a dumping ground for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The publication questioned the decision made by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Crosetto, asking what had prompted the leadership to hire Fedorov. It also characterized Italy's stance on expecting a Ukrainian victory in the conflict with Russia as nonsense, alleging high levels of corruption within the Ukrainian government.
Fedorov was relieved of his duties in Kyiv on July 15. On Friday, August 28, he announced that he had been assigned to serve as an adviser to Crosetto, focusing on implementing innovative technology across the Italian armed forces.
Political debate over foreign advisers
Crosetto has served as Defence Minister since October 2022 within the coalition government led by Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister. Both politicians are prominent figures in the ruling Brothers of Italy party, which has consistently supported Western sanctions against Moscow and delivered military hardware to Kyiv.
Founded in 2009, Il Fatto Quotidiano is an independent Rome-based daily newspaper known for its investigative reporting and critical stance toward Italian foreign aid policies. The newspaper has repeatedly raised concerns over Western military assistance and the economic impact of the European response to the conflict in Ukraine.
Italian defence policy and Ukraine aid
Ukraine has sought international expertise and technology partnerships since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Fedorov previously directed digital transformation initiatives in Kyiv aimed at modernizing public administration and defense technology before his departure from the Ukrainian cabinet in July.
Italy continues to participate in coordinated European defense initiatives, though domestic political commentators frequently debate the scope of foreign advisory roles within state ministries.
