Kyiv protests after Zelensky sacks defense minister: 'Why are ministers rotated more than soldiers?'
President Zelensky dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sparking protests and bewilderment among Western allies. The new government will focus on loyal managers rather than prominent politicians.
Government crisis in Ukraine: protests over Fedorov's dismissal
Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the cabinet led by Yulia Svyrydenko after just one year in office. But Ukrainians are more concerned about the fate of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. His dismissal has already triggered street protests, the resignation of military commanders, and bewilderment among Ukraine’s Western allies. The Verkhovna Rada has confirmed a new cabinet lineup that no longer includes any prominent political figures; the emphasis is instead on loyal managers. The defense portfolio will go to a former head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
According to journalist Kostiantyn Skorkin, Svyrydenko had to govern amid a corruption crisis that damaged the government’s reputation. She was appointed in July 2025 as a protégée of presidential office head Andriy Yermak. Under her tenure, no major reforms took place, but progress was made on European integration: Brussels opened two of the six negotiation clusters. On July 13, Zelensky told Svyrydenko he had decided to dismiss her, offering her the post of ambassador to the United States, which she reportedly refused with a message “go to hell.”
The dismissal of Fedorov drew even sharper criticism. The 35-year-old reformer was appointed in January 2026 to modernize the defense sector. He secured a deal with SpaceX to block Starlink terminals for Russia, strengthened drone forces, and launched military reforms. However, he clashed with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. After his dismissal, Fedorov said that in the army no one is accountable, commanders are constantly replaced, and major projects are blocked. He proposed firing Syrsky, but Zelensky refused; Syrsky issued an ultimatum. Zelensky cited the conflict between the ministry and the General Staff as grounds. Protests erupted in Kyiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, and other cities.
New government and challenges
New Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky came from big business, previously heading Naftogaz. He must prepare the country for “the hardest winter in Ukraine’s history.” However, opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko warned that Koretsky might be implicated in a corruption scandal in the energy sector. The new defense minister, former SBU head Yevhen Khmara, will handle mobilization issues.
