Key facts
- President Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- The dismissal stemmed from a feud between Fedorov and Army Commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi.
- Yevhenii Khmara, head of Ukraine's security service, was appointed acting defense minister.
- Protests erupted in Kyiv supporting Fedorov and calling for Syrskyi's removal.
- Fedorov accused military leadership of obstructing reforms and using outdated methods.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended his decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has sparked widespread protests and a political crisis. The dismissal, attributed to a feud between Fedorov and Army Commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, has led to public outrage over Zelenskyy's management of the military.
Fedorov, widely supported by the military and civil society, accused Syrskyi of obstructing military reform and fueling divisions within the country. Despite the backlash, Zelenskyy appointed Yevhenii Khmara, head of Ukraine's Security Service, as acting defense minister, a decision that has further intensified demonstrations.
The cabinet reshuffle also saw the dismissal of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and the appointment of Sergii Koretskyi. While the changes at the prime ministerial level were largely seen as technocratic, the turmoil at the defense ministry has opened a more volatile front, with protesters demanding a complete overhaul of the top military command.
Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn praised Fedorov's performance but offered no clear explanation for his dismissal, citing "sensitive issues." The lack of transparency from the presidential office has fueled public frustration, with demonstrators vowing to continue their protests until their demands are met.