Hundreds of people gathered near the National Theater named after Ivan Franko in central Kyiv to protest the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, calling on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reverse the decision.
Local media reported that demonstrations also occurred in several other cities on Thursday, including Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro. In Kyiv, protesters chanted “Shame!” and held signs that read “Russians are celebrating”. The theater is located near the President’s Office, where the so-called “cardboard protest” took place last July, forcing Zelenskyy to cancel a widely criticized law that stripped Ukrainian anti-corruption bodies of their independence.
The protests came just before the Verkhovna Rada’s vote on a new wartime government following Fedorov’s resignation. Large-scale personnel changes also led to the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. This marks the second significant reshuffle in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government in the past year.
Expected changes in the government
Lawmakers anticipate that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko will succeed Fedorov as defense minister. Parliament is also expected to approve the appointment of energy company head Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, along with new ministers of defense and foreign affairs.
In a social media post on X, Fedorov expressed that it was a “great honor to serve the Ukrainian people” as defense minister, highlighting key achievements during his tenure. These included shutting down “Starlink access for Russian troops” and launching programs to expand domestic drone production amid the ongoing war with Moscow.
The 35-year-old technology specialist, who previously served as Ukraine’s first Minister of Digital Transformation, is credited with simplifying bureaucracy and implementing a more data-driven approach to warfare. Supporters argue that his efforts to reform defense procurement and combat corruption have made him enemies within parts of the political and military establishment. Critics, however, contend that he did not fulfill promises to reform military conscription quickly enough.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Zelenskyy indicated that he wanted the Ministry of Defense and military leadership to work with greater unity, effectively confirming reports of tension between Fedorov and other officials.
Source: Al Jazeera
