In brief
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to remove popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has ignited public unrest, with thousands taking to Kyiv’s streets demanding Fedorov’s return. The move, prompted by disputes with Commander‑in‑Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, landed criticism from soldiers and civilians who credit Fedorov with revitalising Ukraine’s war effort. While Parliament has yet to finalize a replacement, the gesture has exposed cracks between the presidency and the armed forces, stirring debate over the country’s defence strategy. The protestors, many young, chant slogans like “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory,” signalling a broader unease about the direction of Ukraine’s military leadership.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has sparked a wave of anger among civilians and military personnel alike. The decision is rooted in long‑standing tensions between Fedorov and Commander‑in‑Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, which Fedorov has confirmed at a press conference.
In Kyiv and throughout Ukraine, crowds of mostly young people gathered on Thursday morning, holding signs that read “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” They also shouted “Shame!” in protest. The opposition was further elevated by the absence of an official replacement; Zelensky suggested the acting head of the Security Service, Maj‑Gen Yevhenii Khmara, could step in as acting defence minister, but no formal appointment was yet made.
Fedorov had been credited with revitalising the defence ministry since his January appointment. He engineered a volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine,” led a fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones, and applied data analytics to boost frontline performance. His focus on technology and asymmetrical warfare has earned him widespread support from soldiers and civilians, who fear that any change may derail Ukraine’s war effort.
Following the dismissal, former adviser Pavlo Yelizarov resigned from his role as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, calling the decision a “great evil for the country’s defence capability.” Similarly, blogger Serhii Sternenko praised Fedorov as “the best minister of defence in our entire history” and lamented the bureaucratic obstacles that have hampered deeper reforms.
Zelensky’s dismissal decision was confirmed in a press conference where he acknowledged the “systemic” conflict within the military establishment. He suggested that while Syrskyi and the General Staff would only cooperate under his mediation, it was no longer feasible to collaborate with Fedorov whose initiatives were blocked.
Ultimately, this controversy has exposed fissures between the executive and the military, raising questions over the future direction of Ukraine’s defence strategy amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. For now, the protest continues and the political trajectory remains uncertain.
