In Kyiv and a number of other cities across Ukraine, people have begun gathering at protests calling for Mykhailo Fedorov not to be dismissed from his post as Minister of Defence. The protesters are opposing personnel changes within the government and are calling for the leadership of the Ministry of Defence not to be changed whilst the country is at war.
People took to the streets in Kyiv
In the capital, participants began to gather for a peaceful demonstration against resignations Mikhail Fedorov. People turned up with homemade placards and calls to maintain the current approach in the Ministry of Defence’s work.
Among the slogans on display at the protest are: «When results matter more than ambition», «War forgives no mistakes» and «Are drones being retired too?».
The organisers state that they are opposed to constant personnel changes within the government. They criticise the practice of replacing officials whom they consider effective with candidates who are more convenient for those in power.
Events are also taking place in other cities across Ukraine
The protests are not confined to the capital. According to reports, people are beginning to gather for rallies in support of Fedorov in a number of other Ukrainian cities as well.
The organisers emphasise the peaceful nature of the protests. One of the participants’ main demands is to prevent personnel decisions which, in their view, could have a negative impact on the defence sector.
The participants are paying particular attention to the technological development of the Ukrainian army and unmanned systems. It is precisely this area that is largely associated with the work of Fedorov and his team.
Fedorov’s resignation sparked a public debate
Reports of possible personnel changes at the Ministry of Defence have sparked lively discussion on social media and across the Ukrainian media landscape. Some members of the public have expressed concern about the future of the reforms and technological projects launched by the ministry.
Against this backdrop, the Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Colonel Pavel Elizarov submitted report requesting to be relieved of his post and discharged from military service. In the document, he attributed his decision to the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov and the potential blocking of strategic reforms in the field of air defence.
The personnel changes caused a public stir
The emergence of street protests indicates that the situation surrounding the leadership of the Ministry of Defence has gone beyond the scope of an internal debate on personnel appointments. For the protesters, the issue is not merely about the identity of the minister, but also about safeguarding the reforms and projects which they consider vital to Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
How the situation develops from here will depend on the authorities’ decisions and official explanations regarding personnel changes. In the context of a full-scale war, any reshuffles in the defence sector attract particular public attention due to their potential impact on the functioning of the Armed Forces and the implementation of key defence programmes.
