Thousands gathered in Kyiv on Friday, July 17th, 2026, protesting the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defence minister. The protests marked a second consecutive day of public outcry against President Volodymyr Zelensky's controversial reshuffle.

Fedorov, who served less than six months, was recognized for pioneering Ukraine's successful drone warfare and efforts to digitize and modernize the military amid ongoing conflict with Russia. Despite his popularity, he frequently clashed with the army's top commander, Oleksandr Syrsky.

A day after his forced resignation, Fedorov accused Syrsky of dividing the country and criticized slow bureaucracy and inflexibility, questioning Ukraine's ability to defeat Russia under Syrsky's leadership. He stated, "A president in wartime should not have to choose in such a situation, honestly."

Following Fedorov's removal, Zelensky appointed Yevgeniy Khmara, head of Ukraine's SBU security service, as acting defence minister.

During his tenure, Fedorov increased military salaries, announced plans for partial demobilisation, and introduced game-like reward systems for units with the highest Russian casualties. A June 2026 poll by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology ranked Fedorov among Ukraine's most trusted public figures.

Sources