Ukrainians protest Zelenskyy move to remove defense minister

Hundreds of Ukrainians protested in Kyiv and other cities Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved to remove Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a popular technocrat credited by supporters with accelerating Ukraine’s use of drones, data and other battlefield technology against Russia.

The decision, part of a broader government reshuffle, drew public anger and resignations from military and political figures at a sensitive moment in the war. In central Kyiv, a mostly young crowd held signs reading “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” and chanted “Shame!” the BBC reported.

Zelenskyy has not formally announced or explained Fedorov’s departure. Fedorov, 35, appeared to acknowledge the move in social media posts late Wednesday, listing his achievements in office after days of Ukrainian media reports that he was likely to leave. In a Facebook post cited by the BBC, he said he would “continue… to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength.”

The reshuffle comes as many analysts see Ukraine slowly improving its position against Russia’s nearly 4½-year full-scale invasion, CBS News reported. Many observers have credited the outgoing cabinet with recent gains in countering Russia’s assault, and the dispute could test Zelenskyy’s political authority as the war continues.

Pavlo Yelizarov, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force and a well-known drone unit commander, resigned in protest. “I believe that the removal of M. Fedorov is a great evil for the country’s defense capability,” he wrote on Facebook, according to CBS News. Some lawmakers also submitted resignations Thursday in protest of the move.

Fedorov was appointed defense minister in January after serving as minister of digital transformation. He had built a reputation as a modernizer, overseeing e-government platforms and helping drive Ukraine’s wartime technology efforts. The BBC reported that he was active early in Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 in setting up a volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” to launch cyberattacks against Russians, later led the Army of Drones fundraising campaign and developed a system that awarded Ukrainian military units credits for hitting Russian assets.

His ministry continued to emphasize drones, high-tech warfare and procurement. The BBC reported that early in his tenure, Fedorov asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to stop Russia from using Starlink satellites for drone attacks, causing disruption to Russian frontline operations. CBS News reported that he was also credited with helping improve ties with the Trump administration and with efforts to cut off fuel and logistics flows to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia since 2014.

Fedorov had promised major military reforms, saying after taking office that the military had faced about 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people, CBS News reported. Supporters said he energized the Defense Ministry, pushed anti-corruption efforts and used data to improve frontline performance.

“This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency,” Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier, told the BBC. He said he joined the army earlier this year because he trusted Fedorov’s team and vision. “I don’t know anyone who supports the decision to replace him. Not within the army, not in society.”

At a protest in central Kyiv, Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC: “We see [Fedorov’s] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them.”

Some in Ukraine have linked Fedorov’s removal to tensions with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, while others cited dissatisfaction over the pace of mobilization reforms, the BBC reported. CBS News reported that several officials said Fedorov’s growing popularity had led some in Kyiv to view him as a potential political rival to Zelenskyy, and that The Economist reported friction between Fedorov and top generals, including Syrskyi.

The government shakeup extended beyond the Defense Ministry. CBS News reported that Ukraine’s parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi, former chief executive of state energy company Naftogaz, as prime minister Thursday, a day after lawmakers accepted Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation. Zelenskyy said the changes were aimed at preparing Ukraine for another difficult winter and strengthening ties with key foreign partners.

“Ukraine is changing its political strategy,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that preparing for winter was “an extremely important priority” and that Ukraine “must be ready for every threat that may arise.” The BBC reported that lawmakers were also due to vote Thursday on Fedorov’s proposed replacement as defense minister, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.