Fedorov sacking sparks rare Ukrainian wartime protests
The sudden dismissal of reformist Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has triggered rare public protests across Ukraine, threatening to undermine military momentum just as the country gains a battlefield edge.
Rare wartime protests erupted across Ukraine on Thursday as thousands demonstrated against the sudden removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a new government today following a sweeping reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In Kyiv, more than a thousand people gathered in a central square, waving Ukrainian and EU flags while chanting "shame" and demanding Fedorov's return. Local media reported similar demonstrations in Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro.
The backlash risks injecting uncertainty into Ukraine's military apparatus at a critical juncture. Over the past few months, Ukrainian forces have successfully halted the Russian advance and systematically targeted Russian oil and military infrastructure using long-range drones. Fedorov, who was appointed just six months ago, was widely credited as a moderniser attempting to reform an army worn down by more than four years of invasion.
For European investors and defence planners, the upheaval introduces unwanted risk. Ukraine's recent drone strikes on Russian oil sites have directly impacted global energy supply dynamics, and the sudden removal of a minister tied to this modernised warfare threatens a rare period of battlefield advantage.
No official reason was given for the dismissal, but demonstrators and local media framed it as damaging infighting between Fedorov and commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky. The reshuffle has rattled public faith in Zelensky's leadership. "I believe that his dismissal is a slap in the face of the Ukrainian people," said Vlada Roman, a 30-year-old business owner. She accused the president of being "afraid of effective people."
The discontent extends to the upper ranks of the military. Pavlo Yelizarov, the deputy commander of Ukraine's air force, resigned in protest, calling the move "a great evil" for the country's defence. "In 2022, I joined the defence forces to win, not to pretend to be doing something," he said in his resignation statement.
Lawmakers are expected to confirm a new government led by energy executive Sergii Koretskyi, with current Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko slated to take over the defence portfolio. Vitalii Sych, chief editor of Ukrainian outlet NV, captured the public mood, writing: "In difficult moments, Zelensky behaves like a hero. But we should not forget that difficult moments are often caused by his idiotic decisions." It remains unclear whether Fedorov will be offered another role within the administration.
