Ukraine: Thousands protest Kyiv's dismissal of popular defense minister

Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Kyiv to protest the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that has highlighted divisions within the nation's wartime military command.

Protesters gathered for a second consecutive day, waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs demanding Fedorov's return and calling for respect for the people's will. Some signs denounced the decision as "self-sabotage."

Fedorov, a young reformer known for championing high-tech solutions on the battlefield, resigned just six months after taking the defense portfolio. His departure follows reports of conflict with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, who favors a more traditional approach to military operations.

President Zelenskyy offered little explanation for the decision, stating only a desire to maintain "unity" within the military command during the ongoing war with Russia. Fedorov has been temporarily replaced by Ievguen Khmara, a discreet official from the Ukrainian security services (SBU) with no prior political profile. The parliament still needs to approve these changes, but no session has been scheduled.

Over a thousand people had already demonstrated on Thursday in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, calling for Fedorov's reinstatement. His removal has underscored existing fissures within the Ukrainian military hierarchy regarding the conduct of operations, more than four years into Russia's full-scale invasion.