Mass Protests Across Ukraine Call for Defense Minister’s Removal

On Thursday, thousands of Ukrainians from cities nationwide marched in protest of the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov, the country’s young, tech‑savvy defense minister, after just six months in office.

These demonstrations marked only the second large‑scale street protest in Ukraine in more than four years of war, following last year’s rallies against President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent restrictions on anti‑corruption agencies.

In the capital, protesters converged on a square in central Kyiv. Participants also gathered in Odesa, in the south, and in Lviv, in the west, while in the frontline city of Kharkiv, more than 300 demonstrators with cardboard signs crowded sidewalks, chanting “Shame, shame, shame!” Their Sulution increased throughout the morning.

“Hands off Fedorov!” read one sign; another bore the words “Why break what’s working?”

Many protesters expressed disappointment that President Zelensky had removed his defense minister at a time when military analysts noted that the war’s momentum had shifted decisively in Ukraine’s favor. The move stands out as one of the most pronounced changes since the early months of the conflict, when Russia endured a succession of defeats.

At 35, Fedorov championed the use of unmanned systems, becoming emblematic of Ukraine’s success in deploying long‑range drones against Russian military and oil targets and in launching an aggressive campaign to sever Crimea from Russian influence.

His removal was seen by many as a victory for an entrenched military establishment and a defense industry that clashed with his vision for the future of warfare. Signs such as “Fedorov is innovation, old grandpas are degeneration” proliferated among the cardboard displays.

DuringERE a press conference in Kyiv, Fedorov defended his record, noting that he had urged President Zelensky to replace Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces, a suggestion the president had declinedby.

Fedorov, who had repeatedly clashed with Syrskyi over strategy, accused the commander of “blocking all of our initiatives.”

“Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically,” Fedorov said, “Syrskyi chose to focus on dividing the country.” Syrskyi issued no public comment up to the early part of the day.

Fedorov acknowledged the street anger, remarking, “Today we see that the Ukrainian people have taken a stand. Why is it that, at a moment when hope seems tangible, this trajectory is being disrupted?”

At the Kharkiv protest, 12‑year‑old Maria Chaplihina stood quietly beside her grandfather, holding a sign that read “Bring Back Fedorov.” It was her first protest; she said most of her friends were at home, but she felt it was important to voice her beliefs. “Winning the war is paramount, and Fedorov has done great work,” she added. “Our president wants to dismiss him because he is doing a good job, and people don’t like it.”

The call for the Thursday demonstrations came from Dmytro Koziatynsky, a war سنة veteran who organized last year’s protests against President Zelensky’s crackdown on anti‑corruption bodies. Those “cardboard protests” ultimately compelled Zelensky to reverse course.

At least 1,000 people gathered in the central Kyiv square—within earshot of President Zelensky’s office on Bankova Street—primarily young protesters stampeded, raised signs, and demanded the resignation of Commander‑in‑Chief Syrskyi.

Retired psychologist Andriy Fedun, 54, expressed concern: “I truly worry about what is happening now.” He recalled supporting Zelensky for his diplomacy in securing international backing for Ukraine but viewed the dismissal of a popular defense minister at a critical juncture as a strategic blunder. “Russia hopes for internal turmoil; why remove him now?” he said.

No immediate response arrived from President Zelensky, while images of the protests spread across social media. A senior military officer—Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov, deputy commander885 of Ukraine’s Air Forces—posted on Facebook that he would resign in protest. “Abandoning Fedorov’s strategic air‑defense reforms threatens our defensive capability and exposes us to greater damage,” he warned.

In Kharkiv, IT worker Kateryna Arkhypova stressed that Ukraine could only win the war “by having a young, reformed system with new approaches, rather than relying on outdated Soviet‑style doctrines.”

Some active soldiers joined the protests. 25城县 Nazariy Yeremenko decrying a “glaring injustice” and advocating that the “power of the people, free speech will bring sanity to our legislative system.” He referenced Ukraine’s deep‑strike campaigns into Russia, the campaign to cut off Crimea, and the pressure on President Vladimir Putin via targeted strikes as evidence of Fedorov’s contributions. “My comrades and I witness increased efficiency,” he said. The crowd behind him chanted, “Parliament, say no,” urging lawmakers to oppose Zelensky’s decision to replace Fedorov—a move, rumored to involve interior minister Ihor Klymenko, that would be voted on Thursday.

Fedorov’s dismissal coincides with a broader reshuffle that has seen Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko resign. Zelensky intends to appoint Serhiy Koretsky, chief executive of the national oil and gas company, as her successor.

Nataliia Novosolova contributed reporting.

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