Key facts
- Ukrainians have protested for three consecutive days following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- Protesters are demanding the reinstatement of Fedorov and the firing of Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
- Fedorov was dismissed on July 15 after six months in office.
- Yevhen Khmara was appointed acting defense minister on July 17.
- Concerns have been raised about Oleksandr Poklad's appointment as acting SBU chief.
Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets for three consecutive days to protest President Volodymyr Zelensky's dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The demonstrations, which began on July 16 and continued through the evening of July 18 in Kyiv and other cities, reflect public outrage over the firing of the popular minister after only six months.
Protesters are demanding two key changes: the reinstatement of Fedorov and the dismissal of Commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Reports suggest Fedorov's dismissal stems from a deepening conflict with Syrskyi, characterized by fundamental differences in leadership and strategy. Critics have accused Syrskyi, described as an "old-guard Soviet commander," of excessive micromanagement and fostering a Soviet-style military culture prone to corruption and high personnel losses.
Despite widespread calls for Fedorov's return, President Zelensky nominated Yevhen Khmara, head of the SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center, as acting defense minister on July 16. The Cabinet of Ministers approved Khmara's appointment on July 17. Khmara's prior role involved leading Ukraine's long-range strike campaign against Russia. However, his appointment has paved the way for his controversial senior deputy, Oleksandr Poklad, to become acting chief of the SBU. Civil society figures, including the Anti-Corruption Action Center, have raised alarms about Poklad, accusing him of involvement in past actions against the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and fabricating political cases.
Fedorov's tenure, though short, was marked by significant achievements, including securing Elon Musk's cooperation to deny Russian troops access to Starlink and coordinating long-range strikes on Russian logistics in occupied Crimea.