Dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov sparks protests in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sudden dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a popular figure among the public and the military, has drawn significant backlash in the country. A large group, consisting mostly of young people, gathered in the capital, Kyiv, on the morning of Thursday, July 16, to protest the decision. Demonstrators expressed their reaction by carrying banners reading "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging the victory."

KNOWN FOR HIS INNOVATIVE MOVES

Fedorov, who is only 35 years old and was appointed to this position in January 2026, was appreciated for the dynamism he brought to the ministry and his anti-corruption efforts. As the former Minister of Digital Transformation, Fedorov had established the "IT Army of Ukraine" to conduct cyberattacks against the Russian invasion and led the "Army of Drones" campaign.

Focusing on high-tech warfare methods throughout his tenure, Fedorov communicated with SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellites and played a critical role in operations targeting Crimea.

REASON FOR DISMISSAL UNCLEAR

Zelenskyy has not yet shared the justification for this decision, which caused a shock effect in civil society and some segments of the military, with the public. Behind the scenes, it is rumored that the tensions Fedorov experienced with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the slowness in restructuring the mobilization system in the army were influential in this decision. It is expected that Ihor Klymenko, the current Minister of Internal Affairs, will replace Fedorov.

REACTIONS FROM THE MILITARY AND PUBLIC ARE GROWING

The decision also caused discomfort among soldiers on the front lines and the command staff. Successful drone unit commander Pavlo Yelizarov resigned from his post as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, describing the dismissal as "a great disservice to the country's defense capacity."

Citizens and soldiers participating in the protests in Kyiv also emphasized that they trusted Fedorov's vision and expressed concern that the army's motivation might decline. In a statement on his social media account, Fedorov stated that they would continue to defeat the enemy with asymmetric warfare and the speed of innovation.