KYIV — Protests broke out in Ukraine’s capital on Thursday following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered in Kyiv’s Ivan Franko Square to voice opposition to the removal, carrying placards and chanting slogans against the move. The demonstration marks only the second time since the 2022 Russian invasion that large-scale anti-government protests have occurred in the country. The dismissal follows a period of intense friction between Fedorov, a 35-year-old seen as a reformist and proponent of drone warfare, and the country’s top military commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The Breakdown of Leadership
President Zelenskyy defended his decision to remove Fedorov during a press conference in Kyiv, acknowledging that relations between the ministry and the military’s top leadership had collapsed. “I would very much like to see unity. The sides have not found it. And the problem lies not only with the sides, but with me as well,” Zelenskyy stated. “In such a situation, you have a choice: either one side or the other.” Zelenskyy chose to back Syrskyi, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society members and war veterans. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a prominent protest organizer, publicly called on citizens to show the president that they opposed “replacing effective ministers with convenient opportunists.” Fedorov, who held the post for six months, alleged that his efforts to modernize the military were obstructed by the General Staff. According to lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, the friction stemmed from Fedorov’s clashes with “old-school military generals” and his controversial reforms regarding military conscription.
For more on this story, see Zelenskyy Overhauls Government With Removal of Defense Minister and PM.
Fedorov’s Tenure and Reform Efforts
During his six-month term, Fedorov was widely credited with driving Ukraine’s technological advancements, particularly in the use of drones. His team’s achievements included pushing for innovative drone strikes against Russian energy infrastructure and military logistics, including targets in Moscow and the occupied peninsula of Crimea. Fedorov also claimed credit for the shutdown of Starlink systems for Russian forces and the introduction of reforms aimed at increasing transparency in arms procurement. He stated, “I don’t need to be Minister of Defense just to be Minister of Defense. I need this position so we can win this war.”
Government Reshuffle and Political Context
Ukraine’s parliament has already accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Zelenskyy has nominated Serhii Koretskyi, the current CEO of the state-owned energy company Naftogaz, as the next prime minister. Reports indicate that Ihor Klymenko, the current interior minister and a former police general, is expected to be nominated as Fedorov’s successor. The political volatility occurred during a visit to Kyiv by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is preparing to leave office. Amid the domestic unrest, the two leaders held private talks and focused on ongoing international support. Starmer pledged that the United Kingdom would provide €300 million to assist Ukraine in acquiring 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets. Protesters remain focused on the perceived loss of a reformist leader, with Maria Lavrynets, 31, telling the BBC at the demonstration, “We see [Fedorov’s] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them.”
Find more reporting in our World section.
Worth a look