Protests have erupted in several Ukrainian cities following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that has sparked criticism from soldiers, commentators and members of civil society.
Crowds gathered in Kyiv on Thursday morning, with many protesters carrying placards bearing messages such as “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” while chanting “Shame!”.
President Zelensky has not publicly explained the decision, which has triggered widespread debate over the future of Ukraine’s defence reforms.
Lawmakers are expected to vote later on Thursday on the nomination of Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as Fedorov’s replacement.
Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister in January and was widely credited with revitalising the ministry by pushing anti-corruption reforms, embracing technology and introducing data-driven strategies to improve military performance on the battlefield.
Some analysts have suggested his dismissal may be linked to disagreements with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, while others argue it reflects dissatisfaction over the pace of military mobilisation reforms.
Speaking to the BBC, Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr described the decision as deeply unpopular.
“This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency,” he said.
He explained that he enlisted earlier this year because he believed in Fedorov’s leadership and vision.
“I don’t know anyone who supports the decision to replace him. Not within the army, not in society.”
Many demonstrators echoed similar concerns.
“I have lots of friends in the military. Lots of them died. I don’t want this to go on,” protester Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC during a demonstration in Kyiv.
“We see [Fedorov’s] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them.”
Before becoming defence minister, Fedorov served as Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, where he helped establish the volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” to carry out cyber operations against Russia following the full-scale invasion in 2022.
He later led the successful “Army of Drones” fundraising initiative and introduced a points-based system that rewarded Ukrainian military units for successfully targeting Russian assets.
After taking over the defence ministry, Fedorov continued promoting drone warfare, technological innovation and procurement reforms aimed at modernising Ukraine’s military.
He also appealed to SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellite services for drone operations, a move that reportedly disrupted Russian frontline activities.
Fedorov’s ministry was also involved in planning Ukraine’s recent operations targeting Russian-controlled Crimea. Last month, he pledged to “cut off” the occupied peninsula from Russia through sustained mid-range drone strikes.
Following his dismissal, Fedorov reflected on his time in office in a Facebook post, highlighting the reforms implemented during his tenure.
He said he would “continue… to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength”.
His removal has also prompted high-profile resignations.
Prominent military blogger Serhii Sternenko, who served as one of Fedorov’s advisers, described him as “the best minister of defence in our entire history”, while criticising what he called “bureaucratic obstacles and artificial delays” that hindered wider reforms.
Pavlo Yelizarov, a respected drone unit commander, also stepped down from his role as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest.
He described Fedorov’s dismissal as “a great evil for the country’s defence capability.”
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