Why Zelenskyy’s sacking of defence minister has sparked protests in Ukraine

The dismissal of Ukraine's popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has brought hundreds of protesters to downtown Kyiv today (July 16).

A tech-savvy 35-year-old Fedorov had been in office for only six months, but remained close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since 2019. The president is facing growing backlash after his move to oust the defence chief as part of a Cabinet shakeup.

The Ukrainian leader has not explained the specific reason for his decision; however, Zelenskyy told reporters he expected "greater unity" between the defence ministry and military leaders.

Some in Ukraine speculate that Fedorov's removal is linked to tensions between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Still, his sacking has significantly upset soldiers, veterans, and civil society figures. Ukrainian Air Force deputy commander and some lawmakers were quick to submit their resignations following Fedorov's ouster.

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We take a closer look.

Who is Mykhailo Fedorov?

Born in Vasylivka, Fedorov grew up in the nearby city of ​Zaporizhzhia. Russia has occupied Vasylivka and bombards Zaporizhzhia daily.

He has also worked as a marketing specialist. Zelenskyy, who was then a television host, brought in Fedorov to run a social media campaign that eventually paved the way for his thumping victory in the nation's April 2019 presidential election.

The Ukrainian leader appointed Fedorov to his first cabinet as minister for digital transformation. Fedorov was then 28.

Some in Ukraine speculate that Fedorov's removal is linked to tensions between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Image courtesy: X

Targeting the legacy of Soviet-era bureaucracy, his new department launched an app called Diia — which means "action" in Ukrainian.

Advertised as "the state in a smartphone," the app enabled Ukrainians to access a wide range of government services, including vehicle registration, marriages, and divorces, Reuters reported.

In 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine, Fedorov publicly urged SpaceX owner Elon Musk to provide Starlink stations to restore connectivity - which Musk quickly did.

It became a medium of vital communication lifeline for Ukraine's military and civilian infrastructure. In February this year, Fedorov worked closely with Starlink to stop its unauthorised use by Russian forces on the battleground.

At the outset of the war, he advocated for building an "army of drones," recognising early on the potential of a technology that would eventually reshape warfare. Fedorov remained focused on drones and high-tech warfare.

In January 2026, Fedorov was promoted to the rank of defence minister, also a turning point in his career.

He set out a strategy to win the war by causing 50,000 monthly casualties in Russia, weakening its aerial attacks and affecting its economy. However, he did not deliver the promised proposals for moving forward with the overhaul of mobilisation in the military, according to reports.

Why was Fedorov ousted?

The Ukrainian president has not explicitly mentioned the reason for dismissing him as a defence minister.

But, as per international media reports, Fedorov's attempts to revamp the sprawling defence ministry and armed forces simmered tensions with the more conventionally minded Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi.

Others also highlight that his failure, as defence minister, to overhaul military mobilisation could be the reason for his sacking.

Why his removal has sparked protests against Zelenskyy

Most of the streets in Kyiv are jam-packed with crowds of people, mainly youngsters holding placards reading "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging victory!" and chanting "Shame!".

In protest of Fedorov's ouster, deputy Air Force Commander Pavlo Yelizarov, with a copy of the resignation letter, wrote on Facebook: "I believe that the removal of M. Fedorov is a great evil for the country's defence capability."

In January 2026, Fedorov was promoted to the rank of defence minister, also a turning point in his career. Image courtesy: X

Prominent blogger Serhii Sternenko lauded Fedorov as "the best minister of defence in our entire history." Sternenko was brought in by Fedorov as an adviser.

Soldiers and veterans are blasting Zelensky for sacking the popular defence minister. They argue that war-hit Ukraine has lost one of its most efficient wartime officials without enough explanation from the President.

Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran, has appealed to Ukrainians to assemble at Ivan Franko Square to stage a protest against what he described as a pattern of "replacing effective ministers with convenient yes-men."

"We will never defeat Russia as long as the same total stagnation and corruption rule our army and our ministries," Kyiv Independent quoted Koziatynskyi as saying.

Calling the decision "utterly baffling", Pavlo Kazarin, a sergeant, argued that this reshuffling would have been understandable if there had been any complaints about Fedorov's work. "But there weren't any," Kazarin told the media outlet.

Is dismissing Fedorov Zelenskyy's 'biggest mistake'?

Maria Berlinska, a veteran and co-founder of the Victory Drones initiative, has called Zelenskyy's move a "biggest mistake."

Responding to reports of Fedorov's rift with Syrskyi, Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, a Ukrainian aviation expert and former Ukrainian Air Force officer, went blunt: "Zelenskyy removed the best person and left a worse one. When a competent minister is appointed who begins implementing reforms, only to be removed after a while, the mood in the trenches changes."

For Anton Skop-Bilonizhko, co-founder of the Opora Poruch military fundraising NGO, the decision is "extremely strange."

Removing Fedorov, someone who has proven his dedication to the Ukrainian people since joining Zelensky's team in 2019, "is like a step backwards from what we have started," according to Skop-Bilonizhko.

Alongside others, the co-founder plans to join the protest "for Fedorov's reinstatement as Defence Minister."

With inputs from agencies