On Thursday, July 16, 2026, rare protests broke out in central Kyiv in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of the country's defence minister. The demonstrations marked an uncommon public display of dissent in the capital regarding this significant political decision.

The protests highlight tensions surrounding the leadership change within Ukraine's defence establishment. Further details about the scale of the protests or the reasons behind the dismissal have not been provided.

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