Protests in Ukraine enters seventh day over dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov
For the seventh consecutive day, protests are taking place in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities demanding the reinstatement of dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Protesters say their demand to dismiss Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has been met, but Fedorov's return has not yet been achieved.
Protests demanding the reinstatement of dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov have entered their seventh day in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities. According to public broadcaster Suspilne, around 500 people gathered in Kyiv.
The protesters stated that despite their earlier demand for the dismissal of Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi being heard, they now insist on Fedorov's return to office. Demonstrations have also been reported in Kropyvnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Uzhhorod, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Earlier, from July 16 to 21, protests took place across Ukraine demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and Syrskyi's dismissal. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had failed to find common ground, and that issues on the battlefield, in brigades, and with mobilization remained unresolved.
On July 18, Zelenskyy stated that he had held talks with former Defense Minister Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, promising that "decisions regarding the army will be developed." On July 20, Syrskyi apologized to Fedorov, claiming he had been unaware of the conflict between them. After six days of protests, Zelenskyy announced Syrskyi's dismissal and the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor.
Veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi, who had called for protests demanding Syrskyi's dismissal, has announced a rally in Kyiv on July 24 to demand Fedorov's return as Defense Minister.
