Ukrainian president fires defense minister, sparking rare wartime protests

Ukraine's popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed on July 15, 2026, as part of a major government reshuffle that also saw Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko resign. The move sparked rare wartime protests across the country, with thousands gathering in Kyiv and other cities to demand Fedorov's reinstatement. Source: AP

What happened

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov after just six months in office, citing a breakdown in relations between the defense minister and the armed forces commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrskyi. Source: The Guardian Fedorov, a tech-savvy reformer credited with boosting Ukraine's drone warfare and cutting corruption, had clashed with Syrskyi over military reforms. Source: Euronews Zelenskyy nominated Serhii Koretskyi, head of state energy firm Naftogaz, as the new prime minister, and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is expected to replace Fedorov. Source: BBC

The reaction

Protests erupted in Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities, with demonstrators chanting "Shame!" and holding signs reading "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging victory!" Source: Al Jazeera The protest was the largest anti-government demonstration since July 2025. Source: AP Russian military bloggers cheered Fedorov's dismissal, saying it would benefit Moscow. Source: Moscow Times Fedorov himself accused Syrskyi of blocking his initiatives and said the war cannot be won under the current leadership. Source: Foreign Policy

What's next

Parliament is expected to approve the new cabinet. Fedorov declined an advisory role offered by Zelenskyy. Source: NPR The reshuffle comes as Ukraine faces a critical winter war effort and ongoing Russian advances.