Ukraine Protests Erupt After President Zelensky Ousts Popular Defense Minister Fedorov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces intense domestic backlash following his decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a key figure behind Ukraine’s drone warfare advancements. The move, part of a broader government reshuffle including the recent resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, sparked mass protests in Kyiv with thousands rallying outside the presidential office demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement. Protesters carried signs with slogans such as "Fedorov," "We Are Not Fools," and "Shame," marking one of the strongest public demonstrations against Zelensky since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Fedorov, nicknamed the "Hi-Tech Minister," earned widespread acclaim for accelerating arms procurement, expanding drone production, and combating corruption within the defense ministry. Supporters credit his reforms with significantly enhancing Ukraine’s security and enabling successful strikes deep into Russian territory. The dismissal also triggered the resignation of Pavel Yelyzarov, a prominent drone unit commander and deputy air force chief, who warned that removing Fedorov would severely damage Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Criticism extended into Zelensky’s own "Servant of the People" party, where some MPs threatened to oppose the president’s nominee for the defense post, reportedly Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Reports suggest Fedorov’s firing stemmed from tensions with military leadership, particularly Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, after Fedorov proposed Syrskyi’s dismissal, a move Zelensky rejected. Syrskyi then allegedly pressured Zelensky to remove Fedorov.

The government reshuffle also saw the entire cabinet resign after Svyrydenko’s departure, with Zelensky endorsing Sergiy Kurchenko, head of the state energy company Naftogaz, as the next prime minister to prepare for the upcoming winter amid ongoing conflict. Public figures like parliamentary foreign affairs committee chair Oleksandr Merzko and drone warfare expert Mariia Berlinska condemned the decision, calling it a major mistake with potentially heavy consequences.

Fedorov himself posted a Telegram message reflecting on his tenure, highlighting achievements such as disabling Russian forces’ Starlink access and reforming defense procurement, while emphasizing the ongoing goal of aligning Ukraine’s military with NATO standards. Amid the growing political and public pressure, Zelensky is reportedly reconsidering the dismissal, holding urgent talks with advisors about possibly reinstating Fedorov.