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Tens of thousands of Ukrainians marched on Thursday to demonstrate against President VolodymyrZelenskyHis choice to dismiss his well-known defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.

The former minister was largely recognized for advancing Ukraine’s effective drone technology but often had conflicts with the conventional military leadership during the government restructuring in times of war.

A restructuring of staff, involving the replacement of his prime minister, may serve as a trial for Zelensky’s political power as Ukraine’s conflict with Russia’s large-scale invasion nears its fourth year.

Zelensky has continued to hold his position during the state of war because elections are not allowed, but he has regularly changed his administration.

The moves threw Ukraine’s militarymanagement into an unwelcome crisis at a time when its measures against Russia are beginning to show results, and asMoscowhas launched relentless air strikes.

Two individuals lost their lives and five more were injured, among them a minor, when Russian missiles struck the capital ofKyivovernight, Ukraine’s Emergency Services stated.

When implementing the changes, Zelensky referenced the tension between the former Defense Minister Fedorov and Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who leads Ukraine’s military forces.

“I’m simply demonstrating that if the sides are unable to settle a matter, I will have to take care of it,” Zelensky stated during a press briefing.

Fedorov, 35, is seen as a dynamic reformer, with his technical knowledge partly responsible for notably enhancing Ukraine’s military effectiveness in recent months despite facing a larger Russian force.

He is exiting the government following just six months in the role.

Fedorov attended a press briefing wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans, and criticized Syrskyi for hindering necessary reforms, stating that ‘the war has completely transformed’ because of new technologies such as drones.

While serving in his position, he implemented limitations on Russian forces’ ability to use the Starlink satellite communication system, enabling Ukraine to more effectively utilize its medium-range strike capabilities and providing Kyiv with substantial tactical benefits.

Fedorov mentioned his readiness to collaborate with Syrskyi, “but we faced a scenario where all the proposals we made started being obstructed.”

“Under this setup (with Syrskyi in charge), I personally don’t see how the war can be won,” he stated.

On social media, Fedorov pointed out what he described as his key accomplishments: channeling money designated for wages into medium-range strike capabilities, fiber-optic drones, surveillance systems, and other innovations.

He indicated increased drone acquisition, Patriot missile defense agreements, successful intercontinental missile trials, and extensive modifications to military purchasing processes.

But he admitted he was unable to finish the Defense Ministry’s organizational transformation “in line with NATO standards and common sense,” and shift all purchasing to competitive bids, and establish a culture of responsibility.

Syrskyi remained out of the public eye but expressed gratitude to Fedorov in a Facebook update, hoping he would keep serving Ukraine.

“I hope he continues to stay with the Ukrainian team,” Syrskyi said without providing further details.

Zelensky mentioned that he is evaluating Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as one of the potential successors to Fedorov. It remains uncertain when legislators will cast their vote on the new defense minister.

Zelensky outlined a challenging connection between the Defense Ministry and the armed forces across various levels, not just an issue of individual relationships, and he mentioned that both parties are accountable for the outcomes.

“Alone we triumph, and together we bear responsibility for the actions that lead to confusion and public response,” Zelenskyy stated alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is on his last international trip before stepping down next week.

Syrskyi, aged 60, first led the defense of Kyiv in February 2022, and seven months later orchestrated a successful counterattack in the Kharkiv area.

Born in 1965, he enrolled at the Moscow Higher Military Command School and later served within the Soviet Artillery Corps prior to the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.

The Ukrainian armed forces have united under Fedorov, halting Moscow’s frontline progress almost entirely and attacking oil refineries and other energy facilities far within Russian territory, leading to extensive fuel shortages, according to Western officials and experts.

Zelensky’s choice to dismiss him, despite his track record, has disappointed numerous individuals.

Prior to taking on the role of defense minister in January, Fedorov was in charge of Ukraine’s digital transformation initiatives.

He gained public favor by leading the swift advancement and implementation of drone technology and launching multiple effective e-government systems.

As a minister, he took action to fight corruption, a matter that holds significant importance for Ukrainians who have consistently demonstrated against graft.

Combating corruption involved opposing the interests of groups that had previously benefited from initiatives inside the ministry, he mentioned in interviews.

He aimed to reform the acquisition of arms to increase openness.

He also pledged significant military changes, stating that the armed forces had dealt with approximately 200,000 desertions and evasion of conscription by around 2 million individuals.

The primarily youthful demonstrators who marched through Kyiv and other cities in support of Fedorov made vulgar comments about the present military leader, shouting, “Syrskyi, leave!” and “A European army for a European nation!”

A Kyiv resident named Bohdan Huryak expressed he was ‘deeply outraged’ by Fedorov’s departure.

I’m not deeply involved in the internal political discussions, but this is someone who delivers outcomes on the battlefield; we witness those results and sense the growing fighting spirit and belief in victory,” Huryak said to The Associated Press. “And then, six months later, he’s taken out of his position? Come on.

Russian military journalists and pro-Kremlin bloggers welcomed the dispute. Pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov referred to Fedorov’s statements as a ‘mutiny’ against Zelenskyy.

The second-in-command of Ukraine’s air force, Col. Pavlo Yelizarov, resigned following Fedorov’s removal.

It could undermine Ukraine’s air defense systems and result in additional casualties from Russian missile and drone strikes, he stated in his resignation letter shared on social media.

“I am convinced that the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov is a significant harm to the nation’s defense capacity,” he wrote on Facebook.

The parliament strongly endorsed Serhii Koretskyi, the leader of Ukraine’s national energy company Naftogaz, as the nation’s upcoming prime minister.

By selecting Koretskyi, Zelensky highlighted his experience in the energy field and claimed he was most suited to lead Ukraine during the upcoming winter, when Russian strikes on the power infrastructure are expected to increase.

Zelensky quickly changed direction in July 2025 after major public demonstrations erupted against a new law that threatened to limit the autonomy of the nation’s anti-corruption agencies.

The backlash posed a significant challenge to his leadership for the first time since Russia’s invasion.

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