The Protest Signs Are Back: Kyiv Protests the Dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov
16 July 11:16
On the morning of July 16, a protest began in downtown Kyiv against the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from his post as Ukraine’s defense minister. Hundreds—and according to some estimates, more than a thousand—people gathered on Ivan Franko Square near the Office of the President, demanding that Fedorov remain in office and that the defense reforms he initiated be continued. This was reported by
Protesters gathered in central Kyiv
The protest began at 9:00 a.m. on Ivan Franko Square near the Office of the President.
Several hundred participants gathered at the start of the rally, but the number continued to grow.
Participants are holding cardboard signs reading:
- “Bring Fedorov Back”;
- “Don’t mess with what works”;
- “Change or perish”;
- “Hands off Fedorov”;
- “Power still belongs to the people”;
- “Why are our enemies rejoicing?”
During the rally, people are chanting:
- “Shame”;
- “Fedorov—Minister of Defense”;
- “We see everything, we’re watching.”
Who called on Ukrainians to take to the streets
The protest was initiated by veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi.
The day before, he appealed to Ukrainians to join a peaceful protest, stating that Mykhailo Fedorov’s resignation was coming at a time when real reforms had just begun at the Ministry of Defense.
“We will never defeat Russia as long as our army and our ministries are plagued by the same total stagnation and corruption,” Kozyatynsky said.
He emphasized that the protest is exclusively peaceful in nature.
Protests are taking place not only in Kyiv
According to local Telegram channels, similar protests are also taking place in other cities across Ukraine.
In particular, people have gathered for peaceful rallies in:
- Lviv;
- Ivano-Frankivsk;
- Lutsk;
- Odesa;
- Vinnytsia.
The participants are also opposing Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal and calling on the authorities to reconsider the personnel decision.
Why Fedorov’s dismissal caused such a stir
Mykhailo Fedorov’s resignation has become one of the most high-profile personnel developments in recent months.
As is known, on Thursday, July 16, parliament is set to consider and vote on the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to several media outlets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not nominate Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for this position in the new government.
The decision to change the leadership of the Ministry of Defense has sparked widespread public reaction.
The day before, Mykhailo Fedorov himself confirmed his dismissal and published a comprehensive final report on the results of his work in the position. Among his achievements, he cited the scaling up of drone production, procurement reform, the development of the air defense system, international defense agreements, and the launch of new programs for the Ukrainian army.
Following this, a number of military personnel, volunteers, and public figures criticized the personnel changes, and veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi called on citizens to participate in a peaceful protest in Kyiv.
Social media is also buzzing with discussions about the possible consequences of the leadership change at the Defense Ministry.
Earlier
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
