Large protests erupted on Thursday morning, July 16th, 2026, in several Ukrainian cities against the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. In Kyiv, over a thousand people gathered in a central square, singing the national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags, and chanting “shame” and “bring Fedorov back.”

Fedorov, appointed only six months ago, earned a reputation as a moderniser attempting to reform the Ukrainian military, which has been strained by more than four years of conflict with Russia. His removal comes at a critical time when Ukraine has made significant military gains, halting the Russian advance and targeting Russian oil and military sites with long-range drones.

Fedorov announced his resignation late Wednesday, July 15th, stating it was a “great honour to serve the Ukrainian people,” amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky. No official reason was provided for his removal, but protesters viewed it as part of internal conflicts within Ukraine's military leadership, particularly between Fedorov and commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky.

Vlada Roman, a 30-year-old business owner, told AFP, “I believe that his dismissal is a slap in the face of the Ukrainian people.” She expressed hope that Zelensky would reconsider, saying he was "afraid of effective people." In his resignation statement, Fedorov said, "In 2022, I joined the defence forces to win, not to pretend to be doing something."

The protests are notable for occurring during wartime, reflecting public dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to remove a widely supported defence minister.

Sources