Mykhailo Fedorov has been credited with reforming defence procurement and tackling corruption.
Revealed On 16 Jul 2026
A whole lot of individuals have gathered close to the Ivan Franko Nationwide Theatre in central Kyiv to protest towards the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, calling on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reverse the choice.
In line with native media studies, protests additionally occurred in a number of different cities on Thursday, together with Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro, whereas in Kyiv, protesters chanted “Disgrace!” and carried placards studying “The Russians are celebrating”.
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The theatre is near the presidential workplace, the location of final July’s so-called “cardboard protest”, when public stress prompted Zelenskyy to reverse a broadly criticised measure that stripped Ukraine’s anticorruption companies of their independence.
The demonstrations got here as Ukraine’s parliament ready to vote on a brand new wartime authorities on Thursday following Fedorov’s departure as defence minister. The broader overhaul additionally noticed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko depart workplace.
The transfer kinds a part of Zelenskyy’s second cupboard reshuffle in a 12 months. Lawmakers anticipate Minister of Inside Affairs Ihor Klymenko to exchange Fedorov as defence minister. Parliament can be anticipated to approve the appointment of power government Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, together with new defence and overseas ministers.
Writing on X, Fedorov stated it had been “an awesome honour to serve the Ukrainian individuals” because the minister of defence, earlier than outlining what he described because the ministry’s key achievements throughout his tenure, together with disabling “Starlink entry for Russian forces” and launching programmes to broaden Ukraine’s home drone manufacturing amid the continuing battle with Moscow.
The 35-year-old expertise specialist, who beforehand served as Ukraine’s first minister for digital transformation, has been credited with streamlining forms and introducing a extra data-driven strategy to the battle towards Russia.
Supporters say his efforts to reform defence procurement and sort out corruption received him enemies inside elements of the political and army institution. Nevertheless, critics say he didn’t ship rapidly sufficient on guarantees to overtake army recruitment.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Zelenskyy stated he wished the Ministry of Defence and army management to work with larger unity, showing to acknowledge studies of tensions between Fedorov and different officers.
