Ukraine Faces Protests After President Zelensky Ousts Defense Minister Fedorov

Amid ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine is witnessing renewed public unrest following President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Although Zelensky has not officially confirmed the dismissal, Fedorov announced his removal on social media, expressing gratitude for serving the Ukrainian people. The announcement sparked large protests in major cities including Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Lutsk, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Ternopil, with demonstrators demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and accusing the president of undermining the military effort.

The protests gained additional momentum when Colonel Pavlo Yelyzarov, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, resigned in protest against Fedorov's firing. Yelyzarov criticized the dismissal as a severe blow to Ukraine's security potential. Fedorov, 35, is a prominent figure known for his business success in Ukraine's tech sector and his political roles since 2019, including deputy prime minister and digital affairs minister. Appointed defense minister in January, he pushed for digital modernization of the armed forces.

Reports indicate that tensions between Fedorov and Chief of General Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi over military priorities led to the dismissal. Fedorov favored digital reforms, while the military leadership demanded investment in various weapons systems. Zelensky reportedly told parliament that firing Fedorov was necessary to balance relations between the military and government, citing ongoing conflicts and inefficiencies in resource allocation. The president also expressed dissatisfaction with Fedorov's failure to improve army recruitment amid frontline personnel shortages.

During his tenure, Fedorov sought to combat corruption within the military by auditing defense ministries and units, uncovering irregular payments totaling 300 billion hryvnias, and implementing polygraph tests and transparent procurement processes. However, his lack of military experience and strained relations with generals drew criticism. Supporters argue his dismissal was politically motivated due to his anti-corruption efforts.

Zelensky's strained relations with the military establishment have been ongoing, including the recent replacement of former Chief of General Staff Valerii Zaluzhnyi. These changes coincide with broader government reshuffles, including the recent replacement of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko with former national gas company head Serhiy Kurchenko, aimed at strengthening Ukraine's international ties. Meanwhile, British outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv to reaffirm cooperation agreements with Ukraine's leadership.