Protests Threaten Ukrainian Forces Over Commander-in-Chief’s Future
As discussions around President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to part ways with Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov continue, armed‑forces veterans and supporters of the former minister have warned that a failure to change leadership by 24 July could trigger a nationwide protest. “If, by Friday July 24, commander‑in‑chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has not been dismissed and Fedorov has not been nominated for the post of Minister of Defence,” an army veteran, Dmytro Koziatynsky, posted on social media, “we will begin an open‑ended nationwide protest.”
No protests are scheduled before then, but the mood in Kyiv’s Ivana Franka Square is tense. The protests have been organised by a group that sees Fedorov as the key to Ukraine’s Modernisation. They have carried signs such as “Hands off Fedorov” and “Bring Fedorov back.”
The situation has sparked debates both inside the military and among the public. Colonel‑General Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose name is often linked with older, Soviet‑era approaches, defended his record on a recent op‑ed. He said, “I perceived our relationship as a working one. If I offended anyone, Mykhailo Foss.” He also highlighted the complexity of procurement and mobilisation decisions.
He has criticised the dramatic public statements made by Fedorov’s briefings, saying, “Behind each slide there should be a document, a budget and a procedure.” He added that Ukraine’s war is changing and new ideas are needed, but that it would be unrealistic to expect military forces to be replaced by drones in two months.
These tensions have prompted speculation on who Zelensky might choose as Syrskyi’s replacement. Candidates include Mykhailo Drapaty, commander of the Joint Forces; Andriy Bileksky, commander of the Third Army Corps; Oleh Apostol, commander of the Airborne Assault Forces; and Ihor Obolensky, commander of the National Guard Corps. A notable contender is Brigadier General Denys Prokopenko, whose ‘Azov’ Regiment gained fame during the siege of Mariupol.
Zelensky has urged calm while acknowledging the public’s frustrations. President’s office head, Kyrylo Budanov, stated, “The situation surrounding the latest internal changes has caused strong emotions. I understand people who express their position… The position of society has been heard.”
As the country holds its breath, the moment of decision will shape Ukraine’s defense posture and the cohesion of its armed forces. The public’s patience is running thin, and any delay in resolving the command dispute may reignite the protests that already ripple through the capital.
