Hundreds of people gathered near the Ivan Franko National Theatre in central Kyiv on Thursday to protest the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The demonstration occurred as Ukraine’s parliament approved a new wartime government following a controversial cabinet reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Protesters in Kyiv were seen carrying placards reading “The Russians are celebrating” and chanting slogans such as “Shame!” and “Bring Fedorov back.” According to local media, similar demonstrations took place on Thursday in several other cities, including Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro.
The Departure of Mykhailo Fedorov
Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology specialist who previously served as the minister for digital transformation, confirmed his dismissal on Wednesday. In a post on X, he stated it had been “a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people.” During his tenure, Fedorov was credited with streamlining bureaucracy, introducing a data-driven approach to the war, and reforming defence procurement. He also cited key achievements, including the shutdown of Starlink access for Russian forces and the expansion of domestic drone production. While supporters credit his efforts with tackling corruption and strengthening military capabilities, some critics argued he failed to deliver quickly enough on promises to overhaul military recruitment. Zelenskyy, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, noted that he wanted the Ministry of Defence and military leadership to work with “greater unity,” appearing to acknowledge reported tensions between Fedorov and other officials.
A Broader Cabinet Reshuffle
The protests coincide with the second major cabinet reshuffle in Ukraine within a year. On Thursday, parliament approved a new wartime government. As part of these changes, Naftogaz chief Sergiy Koretsky has been nominated and approved to replace Yulia Svyrydenko as prime minister. Koretsky, who previously led the WOG petrol station network and headed state-owned energy firms Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta, managed Naftogaz through the previous winter. Following his appointment, Koretsky stated on X that his “foremost task is to fully equip” Ukraine’s defence forces and “accelerate the expansion” of the country’s defence industrial base. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is widely expected to take over as the new defence minister. President Zelenskyy has stated that these changes are part of a new political strategy, assigning priority areas of foreign policy to individuals with substantial experience to implement government objectives.
Context of the Protests
The location of the Kyiv protest—the Ivan Franko National Theatre—holds historical significance, as it is situated near the presidential office. This area was the site of the “cardboard protest” last July, where public pressure successfully prompted Zelenskyy to reverse a measure that would have stripped Ukraine’s anticorruption agencies of their independence. Prominent figures, including Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and protest organizer, had called for citizens to demonstrate against what they termed “constant reshuffles” and the replacement of effective ministers with “convenient opportunists.” Daria Kaleniuk, co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, also expressed her intent to participate in the demonstrations. Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC at the protest that she was standing for the soldiers, noting: “We see [Fedorov’s] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers.” As the government transitions, the new administration faces the ongoing challenge of managing the war against Russia while addressing public concerns regarding the continuity of leadership and the effectiveness of the country’s military and political institutions.
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