Protests in Kyiv have escalated into a direct political confrontation with the presidency, as demonstrators issued a strict deadline for President Volodymyr Zelensky to reverse his recent cabinet reshuffle.
Protesters gathered in the capital on Monday evening, demanding the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and the dismissal of Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The crowd set Friday as the cutoff date for compliance, signaling a hardening stance after days of unrest.
The demonstrations follow Zelensky’s decision to remove Fedorov from his post while retaining Syrskyi, a move that has sparked widespread public anger.
Fedorov, a key architect of Ukraine’s digital transformation and defense modernization efforts, remains a popular figure among citizens and international partners.
His dismissal has been interpreted by many as a political purge, fueling fears of instability within the government’s war leadership.