Thousands of Ukrainians gathered to protest President Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as Ukraine begins to pressure Russia using drone swarms.
Foreign news agencies reported on 16 Jul 2026 that protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky's sudden removal of the highly popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, at a time when the Ukrainian military was mounting strong counterattacks against Russia.
On Thursday morning, crowds—mostly young people—gathered in Kyiv holding signs such as “Don't touch Fedorov” and “Stop undermining victory!” while shouting “Shame on you!” at Zelensky.
Zelensky’s decision sparked strong dissatisfaction among political analysts, the military, and civil society amid rumors that Fedorov’s dismissal stemmed from conflicts with Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi, a matter indirectly confirmed by both Fedorov and Zelensky.
Fedorov revealed he had proposed replacing Syrskyi and Army Chief of Staff Andriy Honatov to Zelensky, who admitted that conflicts between the military command and the Defense Ministry were a “systemic” problem occurring “at multiple levels,” and that Syrskyi and Fedorov could only work together with Zelensky as mediator.
“When the president said he had no plans to replace Syrskyi, I said I would learn to work with him,” Fedorov said in his press conference, adding that “every initiative we proposed was blocked.”
Fedorov also accused Syrskyi of “seeking to divide our country rather than finding ways to defeat Russia through asymmetric warfare,” which is the Commander-in-Chief’s duty.
Syrskyi posted a brief message on Telegram expressing pride in the military defense of Kyiv in 2022 against Russian forces, stating he would continue to “focus on effective war strategy” and wishing Fedorov “continued success.”
Fedorov, aged 35, was appointed defense minister only in January but earned high praise for revitalizing the ministry, leading anti-corruption efforts, and using data analysis to improve frontline combat efficiency.
He emphasized drones and advanced technology warfare strategies that have enabled Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, heavily pressuring the Kremlin.
Early in his tenure, Fedorov secured cooperation from SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from exploiting Starlink satellites for drone attacks, a move that disrupted Russian military operations and advances.
His ministry also played a critical role in attacks on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, with Fedorov pledging last month to fully sever Crimea from Russia using medium-range drone strikes.
Parliament is scheduled to vote on the new defense minister this Thursday, with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko among the leading contenders. Zelensky said this is only one of several candidates under consideration and no official nomination has yet been made.
Fedorov disclosed that Zelensky offered him an advisory role on the team, which he declined, explaining he did not want to become an opponent of the president. He remains confident that Zelensky listens to the Ukrainian people, knows what to do, and that the situation will be resolved 100%. He stressed he does not see the issue as taking sides.
However, frontline soldiers and the public reacted strongly. Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr told the BBC, “This is Zelensky’s worst mistake during his presidency.”
He added that he joined the army earlier this year because he believed in Fedorov’s team and vision. “I see no support for his dismissal either in the military or in society.”
Ukrainian woman Maria Lafrinets at the protest in Ivan Franko Square in central Kyiv said, “I have many friends in the military, many of whom have died. I don’t want this to continue. We see Fedorov’s work and the soldiers’ drive. We should stand with them.”
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Source:bbc