Crowds took to the streets of Kyiv on Thursday, July 17th, 2026, following the removal of Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The decision by President Zelensky not to re-appoint Fedorov in his latest cabinet reshuffle has sparked widespread outrage among Ukraine's battle-weary soldiers and wounded veterans.

An unnamed disfigured soldier, recovering from severe injuries and awaiting surgery, expressed hope in a Telegram video that "when I wake up after the anaesthetic, Fedorov will be back at the Ministry of Defence," adding, "Otherwise, everything I was fighting for will have been in vain."

Another soldier, identified only as Maryna to protect her identity, described the removal as "a blatant slap in the face to all service members."

Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Action Centre, voiced her concern that "all this progress, which was built by Fedorov, will be just destroyed and reversed in one of the most critical periods of the war."

The collective sense of outrage reflects the high regard many hold for Fedorov, who served both as Minister for Digital Transformation and briefly as Defence Minister. His leadership came during a critical time, including the defence of Kyiv at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

The political developments have left many soldiers frustrated and bewildered amid ongoing conflict with Russia.

Sources