Zelenskyy's dismissal of Ukraine defence minister sparks street protests

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss reformist defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has triggered two days of sustained protests in Kyiv and other cities, opening a volatile political front in the middle of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The crisis overshadowed the approval of Ukraine’s new wartime cabinet on Thursday. Lawmakers confirmed Sergii Koretskyi as prime minister, a move welcomed by observers given his track record as chief executive of state energy giant Naftogaz and his crisis management at Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. Inside parliament, Koretskyi vowed to prioritise defence, economic stability and EU integration.

Outside, however, thousands of demonstrators demanded a radical overhaul of the top military command. The anger initially focused on the ousting of Fedorov, a tech-savvy figure widely supported by the military and civil society. At a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov accused commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi of obstructing military reform, fuelling divisions and “splitting the country”.

Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn praised the ousted minister’s transparency. “It was a really great press conference, and if government officials communicated openly and clearly at this level more often, it would make things a lot easier for all of us here,” he told reporters. Yet Lytvyn declined to explain the dismissal, citing “a lot of sensitive issues” and promising details later.

Instead of a reformer, Zelenskyy appointed the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, Yevhenii Khmara, as acting defence minister. Lytvyn defended the choice by pointing to the current military climate, stating that “what’s driving things at the moment is long- and mid-range strikes” and that “Khmara is really brilliant at this.”

A familiar European warning

For European investors and policymakers, the upheaval carries distinct risks. Zelenskyy’s move to install a security services chief over a technocratic reformer fuels perceptions that the president is insulating his administration from scrutiny rather than addressing frustrations about strategy and mobilisation.

The dynamic mirrors the events of July 2025, when Zelenskyy’s attempt to curtail the independence of anti-corruption agencies triggered the largest street protests since the invasion. The EU responded with an unusually sharp rebuke, warning the move was “a serious step back” for Ukraine’s accession prospects.

Backed by European partners, civil society ultimately forced a presidential U-turn on anti-corruption legislation. Demonstrators this week have already expanded their demands beyond Fedorov’s fate to call for a total overhaul of military leadership. Given the success of last summer’s pressure campaign, they have little incentive to disperse, leaving Zelenskyy boxed into a political crisis that threatens to distract from the economic and defence reforms Europe expects.