Demonstrations begin in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities over Defense Minister Fedorov’s dismissal
Hundreds of people gathered in central Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to protest the departure of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of defense minister, according to hromadske correspondents.
In Kyiv, demonstrators assembled on Franko Square, one of the closest accessible points to the blocked-off government quarter.
People at the rally held cardboard signs reading “Bring Fedorov back,” “Fedorov > Soviet-style thinking,” and chanted “Fedorov is defense minister” and “One, united, indivisible Ukraine.”
The protest in Kyiv was initiated by veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi. He said Fedorov had been dismissed “during effective reforms,” and that he would be replaced by “a person under whom any reforms can be forgotten.”
Through the protest, Koziatynskyi said, participants wanted to show President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that “we are against constant reshuffles in government and replacing effective ministers with convenient conformists.”
Similar demonstrations were also held in other Ukrainian cities, including Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Chernivtsi.
Fedorov's dismissal
On July 14, parliament approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Under Ukrainian law, the entire Cabinet automatically resigned with her.
Zelenskyy had said he had not yet decided whether Fedorov would be reappointed as defense minister in the new government and that he would choose a candidate after meetings with Fedorov, prime minister candidate Sergii Koretskyi and military leadership.
On the evening of July 15, however, Fedorov confirmed that he was leaving the post.
According to sources cited by Suspilne and Ukrainska Pravda, Zelenskyy plans to propose current Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as the next defense minister.
Sources quoted by Ukrainska Pravda said Zelenskyy told lawmakers that Fedorov had a systemic conflict with Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, and with the army, and that the issue could not be resolved.