Kyiv, Ukraine. Rare protests broke out across Ukraine on Thursday after the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as a dispute between the reform-minded official and army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi became public during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s cabinet reshuffle.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Kyiv and other cities, demanding an explanation for Fedorov’s exclusion, while a senior commander in Ukraine’s air war resigned.
Cabinet reshuffle
Zelenskiy’s second overhaul of his wartime cabinet in a year has prompted public anger over the removal of Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology expert who had sought to make Ukraine’s outmanned armed forces more efficient in their fight against Russia.
Lawmakers said a new government led by energy executive Sergii Koretskyi could appoint Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to replace Fedorov. The prospect has raised concerns about Zelenskiy’s leadership.
Dispute with military leadership
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Fedorov said he had declined an offer from Zelenskiy to become an adviser. He accused Syrskyi of obstructing ministry initiatives and failing to address problems directly.
“Instead of working out how to defeat Russia, he has figured out how to split the country,” Fedorov said.
Syrskyi, 60, has led Ukraine’s military since early 2024 and has faced criticism over what some service members describe as a rigid command style that results in high troop losses.
Ukraine’s General Staff did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
President’s response
Zelenskiy has not publicly commented on the decision to remove Fedorov. On Wednesday, he told reporters that he expected the defence ministry and the military to work with greater unity on key issues.
