Protests erupted outside the presidential administration in Kyiv following the dismissal of Ukraine’s defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, drawing predominantly young demonstrators expressing support for the ousted official and criticism of his successor, Oleksandr Syrskiy. The demonstrations featured calls to reinstate Fedorov, chants opposing Syrskiy, and the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.
Participants cited Fedorov's accomplishments over six months in office as reasons to question his removal. Viktoriya Karachun, a 21-year-old protester, highlighted the former minister’s effectiveness and contrasted her current demonstration with protests a year earlier, during which she opposed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s attempt to curtail the powers of Ukraine’s anticorruption police—an effort Zelensky later reversed. Karachun characterized Fedorov’s dismissal as an injustice.
The youthful crowd included a toddler holding a sign and balloon advocating for Fedorov’s return. Many placards drew direct comparisons between Syrskiy’s and Fedorov’s approaches, with some featuring drones taped to cardboard to symbolize Fedorov’s emphasis on drone warfare. A front-line reconnaissance serviceman, attending the protest during a brief leave, credited Fedorov’s initiatives with disrupting Russian supply lines, noting the positive morale impact despite ongoing hardships.
Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatiy, commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces, publicly praised Fedorov and his team for their responsiveness to military commanders and rapid decision-making, acknowledging that many reforms were implemented despite bureaucratic challenges. Drapatiy’s comments underscored internal frustrations with the defense system’s rigidity.
Fedorov now faces a strategic choice between continuing cooperation with Zelensky or adopting an opposition role—a difficult position amid ongoing conflict. The president has taken steps to sideline other critics, exemplified by the reassignment of former top military officer Valeriy Zaluzhniy to an ambassadorial post in the United Kingdom, where Zaluzhniy has engaged in public commentary that occasionally critiques Ukrainian leadership.
On Thursday, Ukraine’s parliament approved a new cabinet slate, excluding appointments for defense and foreign affairs ministries. Zelensky announced that Yevhen Khmara, acting head of the state security service, would serve as acting defense minister pending formal parliamentary approval.
In an official statement, Syrskiy credited the defense campaign he led with maintaining Kyiv’s control and enabling ongoing government activity, while expressing gratitude to Fedorov for his prior service. Fedorov, in turn, criticized Syrskiy for lacking strategic vision, focusing excessively on tactical matters, frequently changing commanders, and alienating innovative units within the military.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko observed that Zelensky’s retention of Syrskiy reflects a preference for a stabilizing figure who balances internal military leadership. Fesenko characterized Syrskiy as a crucial component in the system of checks and balances within Ukraine’s security forces, particularly the army.
While the protests and Fedorov’s critiques do not pose an immediate threat to Zelensky’s authority, they present a notable political challenge for a president whose popularity has grown in recent months amid Ukraine’s shifting military fortunes against Russia.