Ukrainians Protest Fedorov's Ouster as Zelensky Admits Systemic Rift With Top General
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 16
Ukrainians Protest Fedorov's Ouster as Zelensky Admits Systemic Rift With Top General
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 16
Summary
Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities saw fresh protests after Mykhailo Fedorov said he was removed after urging President Volodymyr Zelensky to replace commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and chief of staff Andrii Hnatov.
Zelensky acknowledged a "systemic" conflict between the defence ministry and general staff, saying Fedorov and Syrskyi could work together only with his mediation and that he did not plan to dismiss Syrskyi.
Fedorov, 35, said his reform initiatives were blocked, refused Zelensky's offer to stay on as an adviser, and accused Syrskyi of dividing the country instead of pursuing an asymmetric strategy against Russia.
The backlash spread into the military: drone commander Pavlo Yelizarov resigned from an air force deputy post, while soldiers and activists said Fedorov's anti-corruption drive and drone-focused reforms had boosted trust and battlefield performance.
The dismissal lands amid a wider reshuffle in Kyiv, with parliament approving Serhiy Koretsky as prime minister and Zelensky still publicly weighing names to replace Fedorov at the defence ministry.
As Ukraine gains ground, why was its highly successful, tech-savvy defense minister suddenly dismissed?
Could Kyiv's political shakeup jeopardize Ukraine's battlefield drone advantage and its path to victory?
Ukraine in Crisis: The 2026 Dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Its Impact on Military Reform, Morale, and Western Aid
Overview
The dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by President Zelenskyy on July 16, 2026, sparked immediate public protests in Kyiv and led to the resignation of key military leaders, including Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov, who warned that Fedorov’s removal would harm Ukraine’s defense. Fedorov had driven rapid military modernization, streamlining processes and boosting technological innovation, but his reforms clashed with traditional elements in the defense establishment. This leadership change not only triggered public and military discontent but also raised concerns about the future of Ukraine’s war effort and its ongoing push for defense reforms.