Ukraine Protests Erupt Over Defense Minister's Dismissal, Demand Commander-in-Chief Ouster

Protests erupted across Ukraine on July 16, marking the second demonstration since the full-scale war began. This time, citizens took to the streets not in support of anti-corruption agencies, but to protest the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Fedorov, who did not attend the protests, held a candid press conference detailing his challenges at the Defense Ministry. He revealed that brigade command posts and supplies are contingent on commanders' loyalty to the commander-in-chief. Fedorov explicitly stated that the war cannot be won with Oleksandr Syrskyi remaining in his position.

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the war cannot be won with Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief.

These remarks broadened the protesters' demands to include Syrskyi's dismissal and Fedorov's reinstatement, igniting a significant debate within military and political circles regarding a potential replacement for the commander-in-chief. The protesters have nominated Mykhailo Drapatyi, currently commanding the Joint Forces grouping, for the role. However, the military branches have publicly declared their support for Syrskyi. President Zelenskyy has reportedly expressed admiration for Syrskyi, known by the alias "Bars," and has overlooked critical accounts of his assault regiments.

A shared concern among military officials and politicians is the emergence of a "political general", a commander-in-chief with political aspirations. Such a figure would be viewed as an unreliable outsider by the military and a potential rival by politicians, reminiscent of the situation with Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The article explores the possibility of a compromise candidate for commander-in-chief and the internal military dynamics following the protests.

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Syrskyi is silencing the military – they've been banned from any communications.