Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered on 16/7 in Kyiv to protest President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The demonstration, called by Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a former serviceman, took place near the Presidential Office, with protesters holding signs and chanting slogans like "Fedorov is Defense Minister" and "Don't touch Fedorov".
Koziatynskyi, who previously organized large-scale protests last year against a law restricting the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, expressed his dismay on Facebook: "The defense minister was dismissed just as reforms were proving effective, to be replaced by someone under whom all hopes for reform vanished. All hopes for reform could end." He urged people to gather at Ivan Franka Square to oppose the trend of "replacing effective ministers with yes-men".
"We will never defeat Russia if the military and ministries remain dominated by stagnation and corruption as they are now", Koziatynskyi stated, highlighting the broader implications of the dismissal.
Protests against the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in Kyiv, Ukraine on 16/7. Video: Pravda
Daria Kaleniuk, co-founder and executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center of Ukraine, joined the protest, believing the cabinet dissolution was "primarily calculated by Zelensky to remove Fedorov".
The decision was also met with strong criticism from within the military. Pavlo Kazarin, a sergeant with the 104th Territorial Defense Brigade, called the dismissal "completely inexplicable". He noted that changes in defense ministry leadership consistently stall policy planning for weeks. Fedorov was the third person to hold this position in one year. "If there had been complaints about the defense ministry's performance during Fedorov's tenure, a personnel change would be understandable. But there were none", Kazarin added.
Bohdan, a Ukrainian army officer, acknowledged some shortcomings under Fedorov's leadership due to pressure from generals. However, he emphasized that Fedorov was the only minister who "truly tried to reform the military" with new ideas and sound principles. Bohdan also voiced concern over reports that Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, from the national police force, might replace Fedorov. "I cannot imagine a police officer serving as defense minister. I fear that would worsen the situation", Bohdan stated.
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Crowds held signs during a protest in Kyiv on 16/7. Photo: Pravda
Ukrainian military aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi warned that dismissing a capable minister who has initiated reforms could destabilize the morale of front-line fighters. Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Pavlo Elizarov submitted his resignation in protest, arguing that "changing horses midstream" would cause significant losses for Ukraine.
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Mykhailo Fedorov at a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine on 11/5. Photo: AFP
President Zelensky has not commented on the protest or offered a specific explanation for Fedorov's dismissal.
Fedorov, 35, appointed in January, became the youngest defense minister in Ukraine's history. He was tasked with bringing new momentum to Kyiv's military efforts and was an early advocate for the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), which have become crucial on the Ukrainian battlefield. During his six months in office, the Ukrainian military achieved significant successes, particularly in the drone sector, and initiated a comprehensive reform program for the armed forces, earning him the moniker "drone czar". He also played a crucial role in securing an agreement with tech billionaire Elon Musk to deploy Starlink satellite internet service for the Ukrainian military, while limiting Russian forces' access to the system.
By Huyen Le (Kyiv Independent, Pravda, AFP)
