Kyiv protesters rally against Zelenskyy’s sacking of defence minister

Hundreds of Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv on Saturday after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a tech-savvy reformer widely credited with reshaping Ukraine’s military capabilities during nearly three years of war with Russia.

Crowds gathered outside the Ministry of Defence building on Povitroflotsky Avenue, many holding signs reading “Fedorov stays” and “Don’t break what works.” Police estimated around 600 demonstrators were present by early afternoon, with smaller groups assembling near Independence Square.

Why Fedorov’s dismissal shocked many Ukrainians

Fedorov, 33, was not a conventional defence minister. A former IT entrepreneur, he built Ukraine’s army drone programme almost from scratch and oversaw the creation of the Army of Drones initiative, which by late 2024 had deployed more than 300,000 unmanned systems against Russian forces. Critics of his removal argue the timing couldn’t be worse, with Russian pressure intensifying along the eastern front near Pokrovsk.

Still, the presidential office offered little explanation. A brief statement said only that Zelenskyy had decided on “personnel changes necessary for continued effectiveness.” No successor has been named.

Protesters say the sacking undermines battlefield momentum

That vague language didn’t satisfy the crowd on Saturday. Olena Vasylchuk, a 41-year-old software engineer from Kyiv’s Pechersk district, said she came out because she felt the decision was reckless. “He was the one person who actually understood modern warfare. You don’t fire someone like that mid-fight,” she said.

And she wasn’t alone in that sentiment. Several veterans in the crowd wore their uniforms, an unusual sight at a domestic political protest. One soldier, who gave his name only as Taras, said men at the front had been messaging their families to come out and demonstrate.

It’s a rare moment of public dissent in a country that has largely rallied behind its wartime leadership since February 2022.

Political fallout begins in parliament

Inside the Verkhovna Rada, at least two opposition factions called for an emergency session to question the grounds for the dismissal. A senior lawmaker from the European Solidarity party said publicly that parliament deserved an explanation “within 48 hours.”

The move also drew quiet concern from Western allies. A diplomatic source familiar with discussions in Brussels said some EU officials were surprised by the announcement and had sought clarification through back channels. But no formal statement has been issued by NATO or the European Commission.

What happens next

Zelenskyy is expected to address the nation early next week, according to two officials familiar with his schedule. Whether he’ll name a replacement then or leave the ministry in an acting capacity remains unclear.

For the protesters who stood in a cold November drizzle on Saturday, the wait feels dangerous. Ukraine’s drone advantage over Russia has been one of the few consistent bright spots in a grinding war. So for many here, losing the architect of that advantage isn’t just a political story. It’s a matter of survival.