Protests Erupt Across Ukraine Over Dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov
Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning against the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, with more than a thousand people gathering on a central square in Kyiv, singing the national anthem and waving Ukrainian and EU flags, according to AFP reporters on the scene. Demonstrators chanted "shame" and "bring Fedorov back," and similar rallies were reported in Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro.
The demonstrations came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov, who had been in the post only six months, as part of a wider government reshuffle that also saw Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko leave office. Parliament later approved energy executive Serhii Koretskyi as the new prime minister, while Ihor Klymenko was expected to replace Fedorov as defence minister.
Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech expert, had carved a reputation as a moderniser who tried to reform the Ukrainian military, worn down by more than four years of the Russian invasion. He pushed drone innovation and reforms credited with slowing Russia's advance, and was also credited with reforming defence procurement and tackling corruption. His removal risks throwing uncertainty into the army at a time when Ukraine is in one of its best positions in the war for months, having halted the pace of the Russian advance and struck Russian oil and military sites with long-range drones.
Zelenskyy gave no public reason for the dismissal, though unconfirmed reports pointed to tension with armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. Protesters saw the decision as part of infighting inside Ukraine's military establishment, and Fedorov himself launched a scathing attack on General Syrskyi, accusing him of blocking ministry initiatives and failing to address problems directly.
The deputy commander of Ukraine's air force, Pavlo Yelizarov, resigned in protest at Fedorov's removal. In a statement, he said it had been a great honour to work with Fedorov and that he had joined the defence forces to win, not to pretend to be doing something. The Kremlin said it is monitoring the Ukrainian government reshuffle.
Among Ukraine's soldiers and veterans, the removal has sparked outrage, with one wounded soldier saying in a video posted on Telegram that he hoped Fedorov would be back at the Ministry of Defence when he woke up from surgery. Soldiers speaking on condition of anonymity described the decision as a "blatant slap in the face to all service members," though some doubted the protests would change anything, with one calling it "a dictatorship... with its own petty tyrants."
Fedorov announced late Wednesday he was stepping down, saying it was a "great honour to serve the Ukrainian people," and later said he had declined an offer from Zelenskyy to serve as an adviser. This is Ukraine's fourth government reshuffle since Russia's 2022 invasion, and the second cabinet reshuffle in a year.
Key Claims
- Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities against the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- Hundreds of people gathered in central Kyiv and other cities to demand Fedorov be reappointed.
- Pavlo Yelizarov, a deputy commander of Ukraine's air force, resigned in protest.
- The Kremlin said it is monitoring the Ukrainian government reshuffle.
- Fedorov was seen as a moderniser who pushed drone innovation and reforms.
- Zelenskyy gave no public reason for the dismissal.
- Protesters chanted "Shame!" and carried placards reading "The Russians are celebrating."
- Fedorov's removal risks throwing uncertainty into the army.