Protests in Ukraine following the dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov

Kyiv – 19/07/2026: Following the dismissal of Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, protests against the cabinet reshuffle by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are continuing. In Kyiv, hundreds of people have again gathered near the Presidential Office in recent days. Demonstrations were also reported in other cities. The protesters primarily demand the reinstatement of the popular minister and the continuation of reforms at the Ministry of Defence.

Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov on 15 July as part of a broad government reshuffle. At the same time, he also changed the government leadership. The Ministry of Defence is being headed on an interim basis, while the search for a permanent successor is creating political difficulties. According to reports, members of the Verkhovna Rada are reluctant to confirm a new defence minister until the reasons for the change have been clarified.

Fedorov had only been defence minister since January 2026. Previously, as Minister of Digital Transformation, he had shaped the expansion of state digital services. At the Ministry of Defence, his name was associated with expanding domestic drone production, greater involvement of private arms companies and new procurement channels for the Armed Forces. This modernisation earned him support among parts of the military, volunteer initiatives and civil society.

At the centre of the controversy is an apparently fundamental conflict over the conduct of the war. Fedorov and his supporters favour technology-backed and decentralised capabilities: drones, electronic warfare, automated procurement and rapid adaptation to developments at the front. By contrast, the military leadership headed by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi represents a more hierarchically managed military. The two approaches do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive, but the personnel change has made the contrast visible.

Zelenskyy defended the reshuffle by citing the need to prepare the state leadership for the next phase of the war and for a difficult winter. Russia continues its attacks, while Kyiv must at the same time ensure troop supplies, air defence and economic stability. Under precisely these conditions, the question of whether a change at the head of the Ministry of Defence increases the capacity to act or interrupts important reforms becomes particularly significant.

From a political perspective, the development is unusual because public protests are rare in a country under martial law. In July 2025, Zelenskyy had already had to withdraw a planned restriction on the independence of anti-corruption bodies following demonstrations. The current gatherings therefore do not represent an immediate shift in power, but they indicate the limits of resilience within the Ukrainian consensus. It will be crucial whether Zelenskyy can resolve the conflict institutionally while preserving confidence in the military leadership.