Zelenskyy Defends Sacking of Popular Defence Minister Amid Ukrainian Protests

Thousands of Ukrainians protested for two days after Zelenskyy abruptly removed tech-focused Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a government reshuffle.

Thousands of Ukrainians gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv for a second consecutive day to protest the surprise dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that triggered one of the most visible domestic political crises of Zelenskyy's wartime presidency. Fedorov, widely celebrated for his innovative, technology-driven approach to Ukraine's war effort, was replaced by figures from the military old guard in a broader government reshuffle. Protests also broke out in Lviv, signalling that discontent spread beyond the capital.

Why it matters

The dismissal has exposed a significant rift between Ukraine's civilian defence leadership and its military commanders at a critical stage of the war, raising questions about internal cohesion. The political turbulence also threatened to distract from Ukraine's international diplomacy, including outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's final visit to Kyiv, during which he pledged that the UK's support would 'not waver' and that Ukraine 'will win this war.'

What's next

Zelenskyy is also working to repair a separate diplomatic rift with Poland, adding a second front of political pressure he must navigate simultaneously.

Key facts

• Protests against Fedorov's dismissal continued for at least two consecutive days in Kyiv and also occurred in Lviv
• Fedorov was known for a tech-driven approach to the war effort and was broadly popular in Ukraine
• Zelenskyy replaced Fedorov with figures described as the military old guard
• The dismissal came as part of a wider government reshuffle
• Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv and declared Ukraine 'will win this war'
• Separately, Ukraine struck what it described as Russian warehouses used for drones in the Moscow and Tambov regions on day 1,607 of the war

Bias & framing notes

All six sources are from The Guardian, providing no independent corroboration from other outlets, which limits the trust score despite The Guardian's general quality. Coverage heavily emphasises the public outrage and political crisis framing, with Zelenskyy's own stated rationale appearing only briefly and late in the reporting. The characterisation of Fedorov's replacement as 'military old guard' reflects a framing choice that implicitly favours the dismissed minister's legacy.

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