Protests erupt across Ukraine against removal of Defence Minister
Protests have broken out across Ukraine following the sudden resignation of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov amid a government reshuffle. Citizens and military officials expressed concern that the move could destabilize the army during a critical phase of the war against Russia.
Why it matters
The removal of a popular reformist minister during an active conflict risks internal political instability and could impact military morale and operational effectiveness.
Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on Thursday (July 16, 2026) morning against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
AFP reporters in Kyiv saw more than a thousand people gathered on a central square, singing the Ukrainian national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags and chanting "shame" and "bring Fedorov back”.
Only appointed six months ago, Mr. 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 risks throwing uncertainty into the army at a time when Ukraine in one of its best positions in the war for months, having halted the pace of the Russian advance and pounding Russian oil and military sites with long-range drones.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in