Protests continue in Ukraine; media predicts Syrskyi's resignation
For the sixth day, protests against the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov are ongoing in several Ukrainian cities. Analysts and media suggest President Zelensky may also dismiss Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Protests have been continuing for the sixth day in several major Ukrainian cities against the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Observers claim the protests have decreased in scale, but protesters disagree.
"The number of people is not decreasing, and we hope the protests will force the president to listen to us and that Fedorov will become defense minister again," said Oleksandr Kolomoets from Zaporizhzhia.
The Verkhovna Rada approved a new prime minister last Thursday, but the defense minister post remains vacant, as the most likely candidate, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, refused the offer.
"Deputies went on vacation, essentially leaving the country without a defense minister during full-scale aggression. I think this is completely unacceptable," said Iryna from Lviv.
Analysts believe Zelensky removed Fedorov due to his disagreements with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Protesters tend to blame Syrskyi for various problems in the army.
"I participated in this protest yesterday and came again today because I am dissatisfied with what is happening in our army now. As far as I understand, under the current command, changes are impossible because all initiatives are blocked," said Daria from Lviv.
"Problems have been brewing for a long time, the question is not even about Fedorov or anyone else. This is a question about what is happening in the army in general," said Oleksandr Kotykov from Kyiv.
It is believed that the next step for President Zelensky could be replacing the commander-in-chief. Oleksandr Syrskyi publicly apologized to Fedorov: "If I offended anyone: Mykhailo Albertovych, forgive me, I can be harsh." Syrskyi denied accusations of lack of strategy, underestimation of drones, and other mistakes.
"I am not fighting with the ministry. I am fighting with Russia," the commander-in-chief concluded.
In recent days, the Ukrainian president has held a series of meetings with high-ranking military officials and a meeting of the Stavka. Bloomberg, citing its sources, claims that a list of 11 possible successors for Syrskyi has been compiled and that a decision on the dismissal of the current commander could be made in the coming days.
