Ukraine Cabinet Shakeup Sparks Rare Wartime Protests

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine faced mounting political turmoil Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, triggering rare wartime protests as Russian forces intensified attacks across the country.

The dismissal came during Zelenskyy’s second major wartime cabinet reshuffle in a year, with Parliament approving a new government led by former state energy company Naftogaz chief Sergii Koretskyi following Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation.

The reshuffle also removed 35-year-old Fedorov, who had been widely credited with modernizing Ukraine’s military through drone warfare, digital technology, and procurement reforms.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the presidential administration in Kyiv, while smaller protests were reported elsewhere, demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement and calling for the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

PUBLIC RIFT EMERGES

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv, Fedorov said he had declined Zelenskyy’s offer to become a presidential adviser after his dismissal.

In a scathing attack on Syrskyi, Fedorov accused the military chief of obstructing reforms and dividing the country.

“Instead of working out how to defeat Russia … he has figured out how to split the country,” Fedorov said.

Syrskyi, who has led Ukraine’s armed forces since early 2024, has faced criticism from some soldiers over what they describe as a rigid command style and costly battlefield tactics. He has not publicly responded to Fedorov’s accusations. A senior Air Force commander also resigned, underscoring growing tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership.

FRESH RUSSIAN ATTACKS

Zelenskyy defended the reshuffle, saying Ukraine’s leadership needed renewal as the country confronts continued Russian military pressure.

Critics, however, warned that replacing senior civilian and military officials at a critical stage of the war could undermine stability within the government and armed forces. A senior Air Force commander also resigned, underscoring growing tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership.

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