Massive Kyiv Demonstrations Condemn Dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov

Mykhailo Fedorov has been credited with reforming defence procurement and tackling corruption.

Hundreds of people gathered near the Ivan Franko National Theatre in central Kyiv to protest the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, calling on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reverse the decision.

Local media reported similar protests in other cities such as Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro. Demonstrators in Kyiv chanted “Shame!” and carried placards reading “The Russians are celebrating.”

The theatre’s proximity to the presidential office made it the site of last July’s “cardboard protest,” where public pressure forced Zelenskyy to overturn a controversial move that stripped Ukraine’s anticorruption agencies of their independence.

The demonstrations coincided with Ukraine’s parliament preparing for a vote on a new wartime government after Fedorov’s removal from the defence ministry and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s departure.

This reshuffle marks Zelenskyy’s second cabinet overhaul in a year. Lawmakers expect Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to succeed Fedorov, while energy executive Serhii Koretskyi is slated to become prime minister, alongside new defence and foreign ministers.

On social media, Fedorov said it had been “a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people” as defence minister, highlighting achievements such as disabling Starlink access for Russian forces and expanding Ukraine’s domestic drone production during the war with Moscow.

The 35‑year‑old technology specialist, formerly Ukraine’s first minister for digital transformation, was praised for streamlining bureaucracy and adopting a data‑driven approach to the conflict with Russia.

Supporters credit him with reforming defence procurement and combating corruption, which earned him enemies within political and military circles. Critics argue that he did not move fast enough to overhaul military recruitment.

In a Wednesday press briefing, Zelenskyy said he wants greater unity within the Ministry of Defence and the military leadership, acknowledging reported tensions between Fedorov and other officials.

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