Ukraine protests target army chief as Zelensky weighs defense shake-up
What's next: Organizers threatened nationwide protests starting July 24 if Oleksandr Syrskyi stays and Mykhailo Fedorov is not restored.
A political dispute over Ukraine's defense leadership deepened in Kyiv as protesters demanded the dismissal of commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the return of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Demonstrators gathered near the presidential palace after President Volodymyr Zelensky moved last week to remove Fedorov, a popular figure with parts of the public and military. Army veteran Dmytro Koziatynsky warned on social media that organizers would begin open-ended nationwide protests on July 24 unless Syrskyi is fired and Fedorov is nominated again for the defense post. Syrskyi, facing public criticism, defended his record in an op-ed and denied any personal conflict with Fedorov.