Reuters — Several thousand Ukrainians marched through central Kyiv on Friday to protest President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, signalling continued public opposition to the move amid Ukraine’s war with Russia.
Fedorov, who took over the Defence Ministry in January and was widely credited with accelerating military innovation and technological modernisation, was removed during a surprise government reshuffle in mid-July. The government has not provided a detailed explanation for his dismissal.
Since his removal, demonstrators have gathered outside the presidential office, calling for Fedorov to be reinstated after he declined to accept another government position.
“I don’t like it when decisions are made, and then no one can explain why they were made,” said Oleksandr, a 40-year-old IT professional who joined Friday’s demonstration.
Protesters marched through Kyiv’s historic centre before converging on Khreshchatyk, the capital’s main avenue, chanting: “The people are the power.”
Zelenskyy initially said Fedorov’s dismissal stemmed from a serious disagreement with then Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was himself removed a week later following public criticism. However, speculation has since grown that Fedorov’s departure was linked to his efforts to address alleged corruption within the defence sector. In a recent interview, Fedorov appeared to suggest as much, although he did not provide specific details.
Many demonstrators argued that Ukraine’s military success depends on continued technological innovation, an area in which Fedorov played a leading role. His dismissal came as Ukraine intensified long-range strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure while reporting battlefield gains.
Zelenskyy has shown no indication that he intends to reverse the decision. He appointed Yevhenii Khmara, the acting head of Ukraine’s state security service, as acting defence minister. Under Ukrainian law, the defence minister must be a civilian.
Matteo Mecacci, director of the European Policy Institute in Kyiv, said the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new top military commander may help restore confidence among some Ukrainians, but warned that broader measures would be needed.
“The way out probably cannot be limited to another personnel decision, and Fedorov’s reappointment now appears unlikely. The focus must therefore be on effective crisis management,” Mecacci said.
Protest organiser Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a military veteran, urged the president to allow Fedorov more time to pursue defence reforms before judging his performance.
Participants said they were prepared to continue demonstrating until their concerns were addressed.
“We are not in a rush. We are here to stay. We have no choice,” said Iryna, a 38 year old businesswoman.
Analysts said the protests highlight the importance many Ukrainians place on accountability and civilian oversight, even as the country continues to fight Russia.
Mecacci said the demonstrations reflected the democratic values Ukrainians continue to defend despite the ongoing conflict.
“These demonstrations show that Ukrainians do not regard such questions as an internal dispute among officials, but as matters directly affecting the effectiveness of the war effort and public confidence in the country’s institutions,” he said.
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