Rare wartime protests erupt in Kyiv over Zelenskyy’s dismissal of defense minister

Hundreds of Ukrainians gathered in central Kyiv on Thursday to protest President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a rare wartime demonstration that underscored the 35-year-old tech entrepreneur's popularity and the political risks of Zelenskyy's sweeping Cabinet reshuffle.

The protests, which also spread to at least 16 other Ukrainian cities, represent the most visible public pushback against Zelenskyy since last summer's demonstrations in support of anti-corruption agencies. Demonstrators gathered at Franko Square in downtown Kyiv at 9:01 a.m., immediately after the daily nationwide minute of silence for fallen soldiers.apnews+2

A Popular Minister and a Generational Clash

Fedorov, who served just six months as defense minister after previously leading Ukraine's digital transformation ministry, is widely credited with accelerating Ukraine's drone warfare capabilities and improving ties with the Trump administration. His dismissal, which Zelenskyy did not formally announce, followed reports of friction between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi over proposals for military reform.cbsnews+1

The dispute has been described as a generational clash between a young, innovation-driven manager with a Silicon Valley background and a more traditional military general. Several officials told CBS News that Fedorov's growing popularity had led some in Kyiv to view him as a potential political rival to the president.euronews+1

Fedorov acknowledged his departure Wednesday evening in social media posts listing his team's achievements and failures, saying he had not managed to complete the organizational transformation of the Defense Ministry in line with NATO standards.euronews

International Alarm and Domestic Fallout

The EU's Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, called the dismissal "for us quite a big surprise" and said the bloc plans to seek answers from Zelenskyy, noting the importance of not disrupting defense projects worth €60 billion. Pavlo Yelizarov, the deputy commander of Ukraine's Air Force, resigned in protest Thursday, calling Fedorov's removal "a great evil for the country's defense capability".newsukraine.rbc+5

Zelenskyy has proposed Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as Fedorov's replacement, though the appointment requires parliamentary approval. The president framed the broader reshuffle as preparation for another difficult winter and strengthening foreign partnerships, with former Naftogaz chief Serhii Koretskyi approved Thursday as the new prime minister.cbsnews+2

War veteran and protest organizer Dmytro Koziatynskyi urged Ukrainians to show the president "that we are against constant reshuffles in the government and replacing effective ministers with convenient opportunists".euronews