Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov Dismissed Amid Cabinet Reshuffle and Widespread Protests

Rare protests erupted in Ukraine on Thursday over the dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov as a dispute between the reformer and Kyiv's top general spilled into the open during the president's second overhaul of his wartime cabinet in a year. FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell reports.

As an example, the newspaper cited the decision of Deputy Air Force Commander Pavel Yelizarov to resign in protest of Mikhail Fyodorov’s sacking

Ukraine's ousted defence minister directed stunning public criticism at the army's top commander on Thursday, forcing President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for unity amid signs of an emerging split in the military's top ranks. Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities against the removal of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had been brought in six months ago to digitise and modernise an army fatigued after four years fighting off the Russian invasion. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports.

President says he had to choose ‘one side or the other’ after breakdown of relations between ministry and military leaders Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has defended his decision to dismiss the country’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and confirmed reports that relations had broken down between the ministry and the country’s top army leadership. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv with the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy said there had been a “challenging dialogue” between Fedorov – widely seen as a reformist and moderniser – and the military’s commander in chief, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. Continue reading...

The forced resignation of 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a sweeping government reshuffle has exposed competing visions within the country’s civil and military leadership on how best to hold back the Russian advance.

A rift between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi was apparently at the heart of Zelensky's decision.

President says he had to choose ‘one side or the other’ after breakdown of relations between ministry and military leaders Europe live – latest updates Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has defended his decision to dismiss the country’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and confirmed reports that relations had broken down between the ministry and the country’s top army leadership. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv with the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy said there had been a “challenging dialogue” between Fedorov – widely seen as a reformist and moderniser – and the military’s commander in chief, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. Continue reading...

Leonid Ivlev cited the recent government reshuffle, the forced mobilization to the Ukrainian army, mass losses of untrained soldiers on the front line, and the concealment of corrupt officials by Zelensky as reasons behind potential unrest in Ukraine

Ukraine's ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov served just six months before his ambitious drive to reform the military led to irreconcilable clashes with the country's top brass. He increasingly battled an army command he cast as out of date, inflexible and mired in bureaucracy.

Crowds gathered in Ukraine's major cities on July 16 after news broke that Mykhaylo Fedorov, the country's widely respected defense minister, has been dismissed.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sacking of Ukraine's popular defense minister, Mykhaylo Fedorov, is not just a dramatic shakeup of his cabinet. It's sent shock waves through the country's political and military circles, and it's driven protesters into the streets.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, who pushed for innovation in the battlefield through the use of drones and turned the tables on Russia.

Opposition lawmakers, civil society activists, military advisers responded with angry disbelief after President Zelenskyy pushed out the young, tech-minded defense minister whose embrace of drone warfare innovation was seen as a jolt of new thinking.

Mykhailo Fedorov has been credited with reforming defence procurement and tackling corruption.

Russian missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital early on July 16, but it hasn't deterred protesters who are out in the streets opposing the dismissal of the popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. During his tenure, Federov oversaw a series of successful Ukrainian operations, including strikes on energy targets deep inside Russia.

Mr. Fedorov became the youthful face of Ukraine’s successful drone warfare program. The move to replace him has prompted street protests.

Demonstrators demanded the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov, who had come to symbolize Ukraine’s success in using drones to strike back against Russia.

Ukraine's president has not explained Mykhailo Fedorov's dismissal, which is causing great upset among civil society and the military.

Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning against the removal of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. More than a thousand people gathered on a central square in Kyiv, singing the national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags and chanting “shame” and “bring Fedorov back”. Appointed only six months ago, Fedorov carved a reputation as a moderniser who tried to reform the Ukrainian military, worn down by more than four years of the Russian invasion. His removal...

The largest rally is taking place in Kiev, where hundreds have gathered near the government quarter

Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on July 16 against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Only appointed six months ago, Fedorov carved a reputation as a moderniser who tried to reform the Ukrainian military, worn down by more than four years of the Russian invasion. FRANCE 24's Emmanuelle Chaze tells us more from one of the protests.

As Ukraine signs drone deals and awaits licenses for Patriot missiles, the country's popular, tech-savvy defense minister, who helped Ukraine turn the tables on Russia through drone warfare, is fired.

Mr. Zelenskyy has not named a successor in a host of changes that have also seen the Prime Minister removed

Rare wartime protests in Ukraine erupted across the country on Thursday with demonstrators demanding that President Volodymyr Zelensky reappoint Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed from office on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhalo Fedorov as defense minister following a meeting with military leadership amid a cabinet reshuffle that has also seen Yulia Svyrydenko pushed out as prime minister.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced his resignation on Wednesday as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's cabinet reshuffle, stepping down after overseeing a rapid expansion of drone warfare capabilities and military reforms during Russia's full-scale invasion.

Mykhailo Fedorov, credited with transforming the ministry, ousted in reshuffle after six months in post Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Ukraine’s popular defence minister, despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of wide-ranging government reshuffle. In a post on Telegram Mykhailo Fedorov announced that he was leaving his position, saying it had been a “great honour” to serve the Ukrainian people. He was widely credited with transforming the defence ministry and reducing corruption. Continue reading...