Ukraine has witnessed protests in several cities after President Volodymyr Zelensky unexpectedly dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has sparked criticism from military personnel, political analysts and sections of the public.
Hundreds of demonstrators, many of them young people, gathered in the capital, Kyiv, carrying placards in support of Fedorov and chanting slogans condemning the decision. Similar demonstrations were also reported in other parts of the country.
The dismissal has fueled debate over tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership. During a press briefing, Fedorov disclosed that he had advised President Zelensky to replace Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, arguing that changes were needed to improve military strategy.
President Zelensky later acknowledged that disagreements between the Defence Ministry and the General Staff had become a long-standing issue. However, he maintained that he had no plans to remove Syrskyi from his position.
According to Fedorov, he had agreed to continue working with the military leadership after the president’s decision, but claimed that many of the reforms proposed by his ministry were repeatedly blocked.
Before leaving office, Zelensky reportedly offered Fedorov a role as a presidential adviser, but the former minister declined. Despite criticizing the decision, Fedorov said he still believed the president would ultimately make the right choices for the country.
The leadership reshuffle is expected to continue, with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko among the names being considered for the defence portfolio. Zelensky, however, said no formal nomination had yet been submitted to parliament.
As part of the broader government changes, lawmakers approved the appointment of Serhiy Koretsky, former head of the state oil and gas company, as Ukraine’s new prime minister following the resignation of Yuliia Svyrydenko.
Fedorov, 35, became defence minister in January and quickly gained a reputation for promoting military innovation, expanding the use of drones, strengthening digital capabilities and introducing reforms aimed at improving transparency and reducing corruption.
Before joining the defence ministry, he served as minister of digital transformation, where he helped establish Ukraine’s volunteer “IT Army” and launched technology-driven initiatives to support the country’s defence against Russia.
Several military figures have publicly criticized his dismissal. Some commanders and former advisers described him as a key driver of modernization efforts, warning that his departure could slow ongoing reforms within Ukraine’s defence sector.
The protests reflect growing concern among some Ukrainians that internal disagreements within the country’s leadership could affect military reforms at a critical stage of the conflict with Russia.
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