Zelensky Faces Backlash After Dismissing Defence Minister, Protests Erupt Across Ukraine

Darwin, 17 July: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, one of the country’s most popular government figures, in a surprise move that has sparked widespread criticism from military analysts, members of the armed forces and civil society. The decision has also triggered protests across Ukraine.

According to the BBC, demonstrators gathered at Ivan Franko Square in Kyiv on Thursday, carrying placards reading “Hands Off Fedorov” and “Stop Blocking Victory” while chanting “Shame.” Most of the protesters were young people.

A Ukrainian serviceman, Oleksandr, told the BBC that the dismissal was “the biggest mistake of Zelensky’s entire presidency.”

He said he had joined the military earlier this year because he trusted Fedorov’s leadership and war strategy. “I don’t know anyone in either the armed forces or wider society who supports this decision,” he added.

Maria Lavrynets, 31, who attended the protest in Kyiv, said many of her friends serve in the military and several have been killed in the war.

“We have seen the results of Fedorov’s work. He inspired the troops, and we should stand by them,” she told the BBC.

Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister in January this year. During his six-month tenure, he earned praise for modernising the Defence Ministry, taking a tough stance against corruption and accelerating the use of advanced technology on the battlefield.

Reports had circulated for months that Fedorov was locked in a serious dispute with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov indirectly confirmed the tensions, revealing that he had advised Zelensky to replace both Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov.

“When the president told me he had no plans to dismiss Syrskyi, I said I would learn to work with him. Unfortunately, every initiative we proposed was blocked,” Fedorov said.

He further criticised Syrskyi, saying, “Instead of looking for ways to defeat Russia through asymmetric warfare, he has chosen to divide the country.”

Fedorov also disclosed that Zelensky had offered him a role as an adviser, but he declined the proposal.

“I have no intention of creating hostility toward the president. I am confident that he listens to the Ukrainian people. He knows what needs to be done, and I believe this situation will be resolved,” he said.

Before becoming defence minister, Fedorov led efforts to reform what he described as a bureaucracy burdened by Soviet-era practices. As Ukraine’s minister for digital transformation, he established the volunteer-led “IT Army of Ukraine” following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He later launched the highly successful “Army of Drones” initiative, helping accelerate innovation in military technology.

Soon after taking office, Fedorov also appealed to SpaceX founder Elon Musk to ensure Starlink satellite services could not be exploited by Russian forces for drone operations. His policies were credited with disrupting Russian military communications and contributing to Ukraine’s drone campaign, including operations targeting Crimea.

Following his dismissal, Fedorov wrote on Facebook that he would continue his mission to defeat Russia through “asymmetry, rapid innovation and institutional strength.”

His adviser and prominent blogger Serhii Chernenko described him as “the best defence minister in Ukraine’s history” and blamed bureaucratic resistance for obstructing key reforms.

Meanwhile, Pavlo Yelizarov, a well-known drone unit commander, resigned from his position as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest against Fedorov’s dismissal, calling the decision “a huge loss” for Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Zelensky has not publicly explained the reasons behind Fedorov’s removal.

The dismissal comes as part of a broader government reshuffle. Parliament has already approved Serhii Koretskyi, head of the state-owned oil and gas company, as Ukraine’s new prime minister following the resignation of Yulia Svyrydenko earlier this week.

Current Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been nominated to replace Fedorov as defence minister, with parliament expected to vote on the appointment on Thursday.