Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian cities have been experiencing widespread popular protests since Thursday morning. Thousands of citizens, including veterans, activists, and public figures, have taken to the streets to express their strong opposition to the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The demonstrations have spread to the capital, Kyiv, and the cities of Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk. There have also been calls from both parliament and the public for a review of the decision.
Scene of the protests: “Re-Fedorov”
In Kyiv, hundreds gathered near the Ivan Franko National Theater, holding signs with slogans such as “Release Fedorov only benefits the Russians” and “Get rid of the shovel, bring back Fedorov.” In other cities, the protests took on a symbolic character. Demonstrators in Cherkasy and Ivano-Frankivsk observed a minute of silence to mourn the fallen soldiers. Afterward, they declared their opposition to any change in the leadership of the Ministry of Defense under the current circumstances.
Reasons for dismissal and internal disputes
This popular movement comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss Fedorov from his post following their last meeting.
According to press reports, most notably one published by Ukraine Pravda, the main reason is the “impasse” in relations between the Defense Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Sersky. The stalled military mobilization reforms are also a contributing factor.
Fedorov’s commentary and his political future
For his part, Fedorov commented on his dismissal, expressing regret that he did not have enough time to implement his plans within the ministry, while simultaneously affirming his commitment to continuing his duties. Despite the dismissal, sources at RBC-Ukraine indicate that Fedorov will remain part of President Zelensky’s team. Furthermore, the details of his new role are likely to become clear within the next week.
These protests are putting significant pressure on parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) ahead of the vote on Fedorov’s resignation. Protesters are demanding that lawmakers reject the resignation, amid concerns that changing the defense leadership at this time could have negative repercussions on the course of Ukrainian military operations. This also places the future of the defense system at the heart of the country’s heated political debate.
