Zelenskyy defends sacking defence minister Fedorov as protesters demand top general's resignation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday defended his decision to dismiss Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a widely seen reformist and moderniser, during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated there had been a "challenging dialogue" between Fedorov and the commander-in-chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, and that the sides failed to find unity. "I would very much like to see unity. The sides have not found it. And the problem lies not only with the sides, but with me as well," Zelenskyy said, explaining he had to choose one side.

Zelenskyy's backing of Syrskyi has outraged civil society and dismayed Ukraine's foreign partners. More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv on Thursday, carrying placards in support of Fedorov. One read: "For what?" Another said: "Is your head screwed on?" Loud chants of "Syrskyi out" were heard. This was only the second time since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion that large numbers of people have taken to the streets in anti-government protests. A year ago, a similar backlash forced Zelenskyy to reverse his decision to close two anti-corruption agencies.

Starmer's farewell visit to Kyiv, ahead of his departure from Downing Street on Monday, was overshadowed by the growing domestic political crisis. The two leaders laid wreaths at the Wall of Remembrance and held private talks in the presidential palace gardens. At the press conference, Zelenskyy awarded Starmer the Order of Freedom, Ukraine's highest foreign honour. Starmer, visibly emotional, gave Zelenskyy a framed Ukrainian flag that had hung above Downing Street in February 2022 as Russian tanks advanced on Kyiv. Starmer stressed that UK support for Ukraine would never change, calling Putin a "loser" and noting that Ukrainian drone strikes on long-range targets inside Russia had shifted the war's momentum.

Fedorov held his own press conference, accusing Ukraine's top brass of obstructing reforms and using Soviet-style methods. He said decisions on which military brigades to support – including with drones – were based on "loyalty" rather than data. Fedorov claimed the General Staff blocked his plans to create centres of excellence and change the army's organisational structure, instead engaging in "bureaucratic wrangling". He revealed that he had proposed replacing Syrskyi, which apparently led to his own dismissal on Wednesday. "This sort of culture needs to be eradicated, because otherwise we won’t be able to defeat an enemy whose system is plagued by the very same issues," Fedorov said.

Fedorov declined an offer from Zelenskyy to stay on as a government adviser. On Wednesday, Ukraine's parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko after Zelenskyy said the government needed a reboot. Her likely replacement is Serhiy Koretskyi, head of energy company Naftogaz. Fedorov's scathing comments suggest the political row over the president's reshuffle may intensify.

Some protesters speculated that the charismatic and digitally savvy Fedorov was removed because he is seen as a future presidential rival. In 2024, Zelenskyy dismissed the popular army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and exiled him to London as ambassador. Protester Andrii Dligach said: "Syrskyi is an old-fashioned general. Some of the people around him are allegedly corrupt and have their own drone projects. The problem is that Zelenskyy opposes anybody who shows political ambition."