conflictTuesday, August 25, 202627 sources

Ukraine's Former Defense Minister Admits Country Is Losing War Against Russia

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov admitted Ukraine is 'gradually, slowly losing' the war against Russia. He warned that Kyiv has only a few more months to make critical decisions to change the war's outcome. The Kremlin echoed Fedorov's assessment, stating Ukraine is 'definitely losing' the conflict.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former Defense Minister, publicly admitted on August 25, 2026, that the country is 'gradually, slowly losing' the war against Russia. In interviews with Reuters and other outlets, Fedorov criticized Ukraine's lack of a comprehensive strategy, weak innovation, and corruption as key factors hindering the war effort. He also warned that Kyiv has only a few more months to implement urgent changes that could alter the war's trajectory. Some sources reported Fedorov called for holding elections last week, while others focused on his warnings about military strategy and the risk of defeat.

Where Sources Diverge

Some sources report that Fedorov called for holding elections last week, while others focus on his warnings about Ukraine's military strategy and the risk of losing the war.

heti-vila-ggazdasa-g

Fedorov called for holding elections last week.

iltalehti

Fedorov warned that Ukraine appears to be gradually losing the war.

There are discrepancies in the exact date of Fedorov's admission of defeat, with some sources citing August 25 and others August 26.

lenta

Former Ukraine Defense Minister Admits Kyiv's Defeat in Conflict with Russia.

tass

Ukraine’s ex-Defense Minister Fyodorov says Kiev losing in conflict with Russia.

Some sources report that Russia is preparing to use 'tactical nuclear weapons' on Ukraine, while others focus on ballistic missile strikes and infrastructure attacks.

daily-mail

Fears Putin will use 'tactical nuclear weapons' on Ukraine as peace talks 'reach a dead end'.

idnes

Russia is considering intensifying attacks with ballistic missiles on Kyiv, including targets in the city center, and on key infrastructure in other parts of Ukraine.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentNova MakedonijaAug 27, 04:07 PM
Peace Talks Between Ukraine and Russia Possible in September, Meanwhile a Series of Mutual Attacks

It is possible that a meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, with American representatives also attending, may take place in September, announced today Kirill Budanov, head of the Cabinet of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reported by Ukrainian media and international news agencies. Budanov in the statement said that Ukraine aims to continue peace talks led by the United States. -Se [...]

WireAdnkronosAug 27, 12:09 PM
Ukraine-Russia, peace talks at a standstill: Putin ready to intensify attacks

(Adnkronos) - According to the media, the negotiation channels have effectively collapsed and the Kremlin has now abandoned expectations linked to the agreement it believed had been reached between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at the Anchorage summit

IndependentIdnesAug 27, 09:32 AM
Talks are deadlocked, Russia considers further escalation in war with Ukraine

Russia is considering intensifying attacks with ballistic missiles on Kyiv, including targets in the city center, and on key infrastructure in other parts of Ukraine, as it has concluded that talks about a peace agreement have reached a dead end. On Thursday, the agency Bloomberg reported, citing three sources close to the Kremlin.

IndependentHamshahriAug 27, 06:02 AM
Negotiations Deadlocked; Russia Ready for Attack | Trump Said This War Would End in a Day

Bloomberg reported that following the failure of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow is preparing to intensify attacks on Ukraine.

IndependentDaily MailAug 27, 03:43 AM
Fears Putin will use 'tactical nuclear weapons' on Ukraine as peace talks 'reach a dead end' - Daily Mail

Fears Putin will use 'tactical nuclear weapons' on Ukraine as peace talks 'reach a dead end'  Daily Mail

IndependentNextaAug 27, 12:00 AM
Putin Prepares for Escalation of War in Ukraine: Talks Have Hit a Dead End

Bloomberg: Russia plans to intensify attacks on Ukraine, including more powerful ballistic strikes on Kyiv and infrastructure in other cities, according to sources close to the Kremlin. They say that negotiation formats have collapsed, and Moscow does not expect sanctions or Ukrainian attacks to force Putin to end the war. Also read: Well-known Ukrainian commanders will lead the defense of the Donetsk region, which requires abandoning [...]

IndependentBloombergAug 26, 07:51 PM
Putin Moves to Escalate War in Ukraine With Talks at Dead End - Bloomberg.com

Putin Moves to Escalate War in Ukraine With Talks at Dead End  Bloomberg.com

IndependentWIONAug 26, 05:11 PM
Russia-Ukraine war: Fedorov says weak innovation is hurting Ukraine's war effort - WION

Russia-Ukraine war: Fedorov says weak innovation is hurting Ukraine's war effort  WION

IndependentDnevnikAug 26, 04:04 PM
Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister: We Are Slowly Losing the War

Ukraine is likely slowly losing the war against Russia, said dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in an interview with the news agency Reuters. He also warned that Kyiv has only a few more months to make key decisions that could turn the course of the war in its favor.

WireUzbekistan National News AgencyAug 26, 03:32 PM
Former Minister: Ukraine Must Change to Avoid Defeat in War

Ukraine's former defense minister Mikhail Fedorov said that the country is gradually being defeated in the war. In his opinion, Kyiv has no clear strategy for victory, and the situation of corruption, lack of professionalism, and the political dependence of state institutions is worsening the situation. At the same time, there is still a possibility to change the situation, and for this, a few more months are left.

IndependentMandinerAug 26, 03:07 PM
Zelenskyy's call is not vague: Ukraine is gradually losing, urgent changes are needed

Mihajlo Fedorov, former Ukrainian defense minister, said Ukraine is facing a decisive period, and it currently appears that the country is 'gradually, slowly losing'.

StateTASSAug 26, 02:46 PM
Ukraine is definitely losing in conflict — Kremlin - tass.com

Ukraine is definitely losing in conflict — Kremlin  tass.com

IndependentWIONAug 26, 02:45 PM
Ukraine ‘slowly losing’ war with Russia? Ousted defence minister warns Kyiv - WION

Ukraine ‘slowly losing’ war with Russia? Ousted defence minister warns Kyiv  WION

IndependentTelexAug 26, 12:54 PM
Urgent Changes Are Needed in Ukraine to End the War, According to the Former Ukrainian Defense Minister

Mihajlo Fedorov believes that Ukraine lacks a comprehensive vision of how to win the four-year war.

IndependentJutarnji listAug 26, 12:04 PM
Fedorov: 'We are at a crossroads, Ukraine is slowly losing the war, we have several months to turn things around'

Ukraine is at a critical crossroads and risks gradually losing the war against Russia if Kyiv does not urgently implement deep strategic and institutional changes, warned the dismissed Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. According to his words, Ukraine has a window of just...

IndependentOslobođenjeAug 26, 10:59 AM
Ukraine's Defense Minister: It seems we are slowly losing the war against Russia

Mihajlo Fedorov

IndependentOslobođenjeAug 26, 10:59 AM
Replaced Defense Minister of Ukraine: It seems we are slowly losing the war

Mihajlo Fedorov

IndependentHindustan TimesAug 26, 09:09 AM
Ukraine Is ‘Gradually, Slowly Losing’ War, Ousted Defence Minister Fedorov Warns Zelensky | RussiaUkraine is ‘gradually, | Videos - Hindustan Times

Ukraine Is ‘Gradually, Slowly Losing’ War, Ousted Defence Minister Fedorov Warns Zelensky | RussiaUkraine is ‘gradually, | Videos  Hindustan Times

IndependentKyiv PostAug 26, 02:47 AM
Fedorov Says Ukraine Risks ‘Slowly Losing’ War Without Urgent Changes

Former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine risks gradually losing the war unless Kyiv urgently changes strategy and scales new military technologies.

IndependentIltalehtiAug 26, 12:35 AM
Ex-minister: Ukraine is losing

This article compiles the key events of the Ukraine war from Tuesday, August 25, 2026. This is the 1,644th day of the war. The clashes have led Ukraine's former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to warn that Ukraine appears to be gradually losing the war it is fighting against Russia. Fedorov presented his assessment in an interview with the news agency Reuters.

IndependentHeti VilággazdaságAug 25, 10:29 PM
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Says His Country Seems to Be Losing the War

Mihajlo Fedorov called for holding elections last week.

StateTASSAug 25, 10:22 PM
Ukraine’s ex-Defense Minister Fyodorov says Kiev losing in conflict with Russia - tass.com

Ukraine’s ex-Defense Minister Fyodorov says Kiev losing in conflict with Russia  tass.com

IndependentMeduzaAug 25, 10:06 PM
We Are Losing Slowly. Ex-Ukraine Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov Criticizes Kyiv's Approach to the War

The Ukrainian authorities lack a common vision of how to defeat Russia in the war. Additionally, Ukraine is being held back by the slow adoption of innovations and corruption, stated Reuters' former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

IndependentIzvestiaAug 25, 08:55 PM
Ex-Defense Minister of Ukraine Fedorov Says Kyiv Is Losing the Conflict Slowly

Ukraine is gradually losing the conflict with Russia and has only a few months to change the situation. This was stated on August 25 by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in an interview with Reuters. 'Now a turning point has arrived, which will determine our further trajectory, but it seems that we are gradually, slowly losing,' said Fedorov.