Protests hit Kyiv after Zelenskyy removes defense minister
Why it matters: Fedorov tied his exit to clashes with army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, exposing a split in Ukraine's wartime leadership.
More than 1,000 protesters gathered in central Kyiv on Thursday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a broader government shake-up. Demonstrators waved Ukrainian and European Union flags and carried signs including “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” Fedorov, appointed in January and widely credited with boosting drone warfare and anti-corruption efforts, said he had urged Zelenskyy to replace commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and chief of the general staff Andrii Hnatov. Zelenskyy said the conflict between the defense ministry and the general staff had been systemic. Parliament also approved Naftogaz chief Serhiy Koretsky as prime minister after Yulia Svyrydenko resigned.