In the wake of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, crowds of protesters have surged across several Ukrainian cities. Young demonstrators in Kyiv and other centres flocked to the streets carrying banners such as "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging victory!" and chanting "Shame!".
Zelensky has not yet explained his decision, which has left the military, civil society and political commentators unsettled. MPs were due to vote later that day on a proposed replacement, Ihor Klymenko, who currently heads the interior ministry.
Fedorov, only 35, was appointed in January but had quickly won praise for energising the ministry, fighting corruption, and harnessing data to improve frontline performance. His background as former minister of digital transformation saw him lead a volunteer "IT Army of Ukraine" that launched cyber‑attacks on Russian forces.
The defence ministry’s restructuring under Fedorov also included a successful fundraising campaign for the "Army of Drones", along with a gamification system that awarded Ukrainian units for neutralising Russian targets.
Critics of the dismissal point to tensions between Fedorov and Commander‑in‑Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, as well as accusations that he did not accelerate mobilisation reforms quickly enough. Supporters argue that his removal could undermine Ukraine’s wartime capabilities.
"This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency," said one Ukrainian soldier to the BBC. He added that he had signed up for the army earlier that year because he trusted Fedorov’s vision, and that he did not know anyone who supported the decision to replace him.
Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC at a protest in Ivan Franko Square in central Kyiv: "We see Fedorov’s results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them." She called for standing up for the soldiers’ achievements.
Fedorov’s focus on drones and high‑tech warfare continued after his appointment. Early in his tenure he approached SpaceX founder Elon Musk to try to block Russian use of Starlink satellites for drone attacks, causing considerable disruption at the front lines. His ministry also significantly contributed to recent attacks on the Moscow‑occupied Crimean peninsula, including mid‑range drone strikes.
After his dismissal, Fedorov posted on Facebook, listing his achievements and pledging to "continue to defeat the enemy through asymmetry, speed of innovation, and organisational strength".
Prominent blogger Serhii Sternenko, who had been an adviser of Fedorov, hailed him as "the best minister of defence in our entire history" and lamented the bureaucratic obstacles that hindered deeper reforms.
Pavlo Yelizarov, a well‑known drone unit commander, resigned from his position as deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force in protest at Fedorov’s sacking, describing it as a "great evil for the country's defence capability".
