Thousands of residents took to the streets of Kyiv on Thursday to protest against the planned removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, shortly after the Verkhovna Rada approved Serhii Koretskyi as the new prime minister. Fedorov himself announced he had turned down an offer to become an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The demonstration, described by Financial Times correspondent Christopher Miller as a rare occurrence in the regularly shelled capital, saw protesters demanding that Fedorov remain in his post. The protest came just hours after another Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, which killed at least two people and wounded six, including a 16-year-old boy. It was the seventh missile strike on the city since the beginning of July.
Political shake-up in wartime
Earlier on Thursday, the Verkhovna Rada voted 289 in favor of appointing Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister, replacing Yulia Svyrydenko, whose resignation was approved by parliament on Tuesday. President Zelenskyy justified the change by citing preparations for the upcoming winter, stating that Koretskyi is the best-prepared person to lead the government. Koretskyi, 48, pledged to prioritize defense, economic stability, and further EU integration.
The protest, however, was triggered by reports that Zelenskyy intended to dismiss Defense Minister Fedorov. According to sources quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, the decision stems from a conflict between Fedorov and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, as well as other military leaders. Fedorov confirmed his departure in a Telegram post.
Rare show of public dissent
The scale of the protest, unusual for a city under constant Russian bombardment, underscores public opposition to the planned personnel changes. The same day, Reuters reported that Fedorov had rejected Zelenskyy’s proposal to serve as a presidential advisor. In his Telegram message, Fedorov wrote: – It was a great honor to serve the Ukrainian people as Minister of Defense. I will continue to work on the mission with which I originally came to the Ministry of Defense. To be continued. – stwierdził Mykhailo Fedorov.
According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, Fedorov’s likely successor is Ihor Klymenko, currently the acting interior minister. The protest, along with the rapid political maneuvering, highlights the tensions within Ukraine’s wartime leadership as the country faces relentless Russian attacks and prepares for a critical winter season.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
