Hundreds protest in Kyiv over Zelenskyy’s dismissal of defence minister

Large-scale demonstrations erupted across Ukraine following the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov from his position. Hundreds of protesters assembled near the Ivan Franko National Theatre in central Kyiv, demanding that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reverse the dismissal decision. Simultaneous protests occurred in multiple cities including Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro, with demonstrators chanting slogans and displaying placards expressing concern about the implications of the ministerial change. The location of the Kyiv protest held symbolic significance, situated near the presidential office and the site of previous public pressure campaigns that successfully reversed government decisions. Fedorov's departure formed part of a broader cabinet reorganization that also included the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Parliament proceeded to vote on the new wartime government composition, with expectations that Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko would assume the defence portfolio and energy executive Serhii Koretskyi would become prime minister. Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology specialist and former digital transformation minister, outlined his tenure's accomplishments on social media, including disabling Starlink access for Russian forces and establishing programmes to develop Ukraine's domestic drone manufacturing capabilities. Supporters credited him with streamlining bureaucratic processes and implementing data-driven military strategies, though critics argued his military recruitment reforms progressed too slowly. Zelenskyy indicated the reshuffle aimed to improve coordination between the Defence Ministry and military leadership, implicitly acknowledging reported tensions between Fedorov and other officials.