Protests in Ukraine Following the Dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov

Kyiv – 19 July 2026: Following the dismissal of Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, protests against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s cabinet reshuffle continue. In Kyiv, hundreds of people again gathered near the presidential office in recent days. Demonstrations were also reported in other cities. The protesters are primarily demanding the reinstatement of the popular minister and the continuation of reforms in the defence sector.

Zelenskyy removed Fedorov from office on 15 July as part of a sweeping government reshuffle. The head of government was also replaced at the same time. The Defence Ministry is being led on an interim basis, while the search for a permanent successor is creating political difficulties. According to reports, members of the Verkhovna Rada are hesitant to confirm a new defence minister as long as the reasons for the change remain unclear.

Fedorov had only been defence minister since January 2026. Previously, as minister of digital transformation, he had shaped the expansion of public digital services. At the Defence Ministry, his name became associated with expanding domestic drone production, greater involvement of private defence companies and new procurement channels for the armed forces. This modernization won him support among parts of the military, volunteer initiatives and civil society.

At the heart of the controversy is an apparently fundamental conflict over how the war should be conducted. Fedorov and his supporters advocate technologically supported, decentralized capabilities: drones, electronic warfare, automated procurement and rapid adaptation to developments at the front. By contrast, the military leadership around Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi represents a more hierarchically led army. The two approaches do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive, but the personnel change has made the contrast visible.

Zelenskyy defended the reshuffle as necessary to prepare the country’s leadership for the next phase of the war and a difficult winter. Russia continues its attacks, while Kyiv must also ensure troop supplies, air defence and economic stability. Under precisely these conditions, the question of whether a change at the top of the Defence Ministry improves the government’s ability to act or interrupts important reforms carries particular weight.

Politically, the development is unusual because public protests are rare in a country under martial law. In July 2025, Zelenskyy had already been forced to reverse a planned restriction of the independence of anti-corruption agencies following demonstrations. The current rallies therefore do not amount to an immediate change of power, but they indicate the limits of the Ukrainian consensus. The key question will be whether Zelenskyy can resolve the conflict institutionally while preserving confidence in the military leadership.