President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s abrupt sacking of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked protests in numerous Ukrainian cities.
In Kyiv, largely young people held banners reading “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” and chanted “Shame!”
Commentators, the military and civic society Zelenskyy’s unexplained decision has disturbed commentators, the military and civic society. Zelenskyy’s decision, which he has not explained, has caused concern.
Fedorov, 35, was hired in January but has been credited with revitalising the ministry, fighting corruption, and utilising data to improve frontline performance.
On Thursday, MPs were set to replace Ihor Klymenko, the interior minister, with a new defence minister. On Thursday, MPs were set to appoint a new defence minister, replacing Ihor Klymenko.
As part of Zelenskyy’s reorganisation, parliament confirmed Serhiy Koretsky’s appointment as prime minister after Yuliia Svyrydenko quit this week.
Speculation attributed Mykhailo Fedorov’s departure to disagreements with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Fedorov suggested replacing Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov with Zelenskyy at a press conference on Thursday. “I said I would learn to work with Syrskyi when the president said he wouldn’t replace him,” Fedorov claimed. However, “all the initiatives we proposed were blocked”, revealing. He’s divided our country instead of destroying Russia asymmetrically, as the commander-in-chief should do,” Fedorov stated of Syrskiy.
Fedorov also said he declined Zelenskyy’s invitation to remain an adviser.
He clarified that he was not trying to provoke the president, stating that he was “confident” that Zelenskyy understood the Ukrainian people and would handle the matter. I doubt he’s taken a Syrskyi stance. Today, I informed him that I am acting in accordance with my conscience. Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier, called the decision the worst mistake Zelenskyy has made during his administration.
He joined the army earlier this year because he trusted Fedorov’s team and vision. “No one supports replacing him. ” This sentiment Both the army and society share this sentiment. by both the army and society. “I have many military pals. Many died. ‘I’m tired of this,’ Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC at a protest in central Kyiv’s Ivan Franko Square. “We see Fedorov’s effects. Seeing the soldiers’ motivation, we should support them.”
After taking office, Fedorov restructured the defence ministry, which many Ukrainians view as bureaucratic and Soviet-era.
The former minister of digital transformation founded the volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” to conduct cyberattacks against Russians from the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Later, he headed the Army of Drones fundraising effort and introduced “gamification” to the battle by giving Ukrainian military forces rewards for attacking Russian targets.
Fedorov continued to prioritise drones, high-tech warfare, and acquisitions as the military minister.
Early in his term, he pushed SpaceX founder Elon Musk to block Russia from utilising Starlink satellites for drone assaults, which disrupted Russia’s frontline operations and advances.
His ministry also helped Ukraine attack the Moscow-occupied Crimean peninsula, which Fedorov promised to “cut off” from Russia with mid-range drone strikes last month.
Fedorov wrote on Facebook following his dismissal that he would “continue… to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength”, and he highlighted his accomplishments.
Fedorov’s adviser, prominent blogger Serhii Sternenko, called Fedorov “the best minister of defence in our entire history” and criticised the “bureaucratic obstacles and artificial delays” that prevented broader reform.
Another former aide, tech specialist “Flash”, stated being on Fedorov’s squad was an honour: “I had access to many systems and could evaluate our enemy’s operations. I foresaw their actions. I cannot do that anymore.”
Pavlo Yelizarov, a famous drone unit commander, resigned as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest over Fedorov’s dismissal, calling it “a great evil for the country’s defence capabilities”.
