Second Day of Protests in Support of Ex-Defence Minister Fedorov in Kyiv and Other Ukrainian Cities
Protests backing former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov continue for a second day across Ukraine, with thousands gathering in Kyiv and other cities to demand his reinstatement and express opposition to the parliamentary recess.
In Kyiv, protesters once again assembled outside the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, holding signs with slogans such as "Choices have consequences", "Don't repeat the mistakes of our predecessors", and "You can't win the war in 2026 with Soviet thinking". They chanted "Bring Fedorov back" and "Syrskyi must go", and sang the national anthem. The demonstrators also opposed the parliamentary recess until 18 August. According to an Interfax-Ukraine estimate, at least 10,000 people gathered in the square, with more arriving. Dialogue police officers were present.
In Lviv, people gathered on Svobody Avenue near the Taras Shevchenko Monument, carrying signs reading: "Let drones fight, not people", "Fedorov is the best defence minister", "Exchange prisoners, not Fedorov", and "War doesn't take holidays". In Odesa, the protest began on Derybasivska Street despite an air-raid warning, starting with about 50 participants and growing to over 500 within two hours. Signs included "Go on holiday when you've learned your lesson!", "For innovation. For Fedorov", "Fedorov is Diia", and "Fedorov for minister. Yes to reforms."
In Dnipro, protesters chanted: "No holidays during wartime", "We need military reform", "Where there's Fedorov, there's hope", and "Syrskyi must go". Many carried Ukrainian flags and brought children and pets. The gatherings began with the national anthem and a minute's silence. In Ternopil, a second protest took place outside the oblast military administration, calling for Fedorov's reinstatement. In Rivne, about 100 people protested against his dismissal. In Uzhhorod, a protest continued for a second day in Poshtova Square.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, people gathered outside the administrative building with signs: "Fedorov for defence minister!", "Syrskyi must go!", "The government is the people!", "Better drones than people", and "Strong army, strong Ukraine!" In Poltava, around 500 people gathered outside the Hohol Theatre, chanting various slogans. In Kharkiv, protesters gathered for a second day in the city centre; air-raid warnings and explosions forced them to take shelter in the metro, but they returned after the all-clear. In Mykolaiv, people protested for a second day against the decision not to renominate Fedorov.
Previously, on 16 July, protests took place near the President's Office in Kyiv. President Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi were unable to work together effectively and that battlefield issues remained unresolved. He stated he had not made a final decision but later proposed Yevhen Khmara as the new defence minister.
