Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets after President Volodymyr Zelensky unexpectedly dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a reformist widely credited with modernising Ukraine’s military through technology, anti-corruption reforms and drone warfare.
Protests have broken out across several Ukrainian cities following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise decision to remove Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. This move has triggered backlash from soldiers, military experts and sections of civil society.
In Kyiv, hundreds of demonstrators, many of them young people, gathered carrying placards reading “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” while chanting “Shame!” in protest against the dismissal.
The president has not publicly explained why he removed the 35-year-old minister, leaving many Ukrainians questioning the timing of the decision as the country continues to battle Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Fedorov, who became defence minister in January, quickly earned a reputation as one of the government’s leading reformers.
He was widely praised for accelerating anti-corruption efforts, modernising procurement systems and using battlefield data and technology to improve military effectiveness.
Ukraine’s parliament was expected to vote on Thursday to approve Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as his replacement, while also confirming Serhiy Koretsky, the former head of the country’s state oil and gas company, as prime minister following Yuliia Svyrydenko’s resignation.
Speculation had circulated for weeks that Fedorov’s dismissal stemmed from growing disagreements with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
During a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov largely confirmed those reports.
He disclosed that he had advised President Zelensky to replace both General Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, believing changes in military leadership were necessary.
“When the president said he did not plan to replace Syrskyi, I said I would learn to work with him,” Fedorov explained.
“But all the initiatives we proposed were blocked.”
He accused the commander-in-chief of failing to pursue innovative military strategies capable of offsetting Russia’s numerical advantages.
“Instead of finding a way of defeating Russia asymmetrically which is the commander-in-chief’s job he’s found a way of splitting our country,” Fedorov said.
The former minister also revealed that Zelensky had invited him to remain within the presidential team as an adviser, but he declined the offer.
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Despite his criticism, Fedorov stressed that he was not attempting to challenge the president’s authority.
He said he believed Zelensky would eventually resolve the dispute and insisted he was simply acting according to his conscience.
“I don’t believe he has yet chosen a side in the Syrskyi matter,” Fedorov said.
The decision has been met with strong opposition from members of Ukraine’s armed forces.
“This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency,” one Ukrainian soldier, identified only as Oleksandr, told the BBC.
He said he had enlisted earlier this year because he trusted Fedorov’s vision for transforming Ukraine’s military.
“I don’t know anyone who supports the decision to replace him. Not within the army, not in society,” he said.
Among the protesters in central Kyiv was 31-year-old Maria Lavrynets, who said many Ukrainians viewed Fedorov as a symbol of progress inside the military.
“We see his results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them,” she said.
Before becoming defence minister, Fedorov served as Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation and became one of the country’s most recognisable officials after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
He helped establish the volunteer IT Army of Ukraine, which coordinated cyber operations against Russian targets, and later led the successful Army of Drones initiative, raising funds to expand Ukraine’s drone capabilities.
He also introduced a digital rewards system that credited military units for successfully destroying Russian equipment, encouraging innovation and efficiency on the battlefield.
As defence minister, Fedorov continued prioritising drone technology, digital warfare and faster procurement reforms.
He also persuaded SpaceX founder Elon Musk to limit Russia’s use of Starlink satellite services for drone operations, disrupting some Russian frontline capabilities.
His ministry played a significant role in planning recent Ukrainian operations targeting Russian-controlled Crimea, where he had pledged to isolate the peninsula through sustained drone strikes.
Shortly after his dismissal, Fedorov thanked his team in a Facebook post and vowed to continue supporting Ukraine’s defence efforts.
“I will continue to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength,” he wrote.
His departure has prompted further resignations and criticism from within Ukraine’s defence establishment.
Prominent military blogger Serhii Sternenko described him as “the best defence minister in our entire history,” while former adviser and technology expert known as “Flash” praised Fedorov for opening government systems to innovation and evidence-based decision-making.
Meanwhile, respected drone commander Pavlo Yelizarov resigned from his post as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest, describing Fedorov’s removal as “a great evil for the country’s defence capability.”
The growing demonstrations highlight the political sensitivity of the reshuffle at a time when Ukraine remains locked in a prolonged war, with many citizens fearing that divisions within the country’s leadership could undermine military reforms and weaken the broader war effort.
