Large-scale protests broke out across several Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The demonstrations reflect immediate and widespread public backlash against the decision by President Volodymyr Zelensky to remove the popular official from his post.
The unrest underscores the sensitivity of leadership changes within Ukraine’s wartime government.
Fedorov’s removal has drawn sharp criticism not only from the general public but also from soldiers, veterans, and civil society groups, who view the move as a destabilizing shift in the country’s defense strategy.
This development marks a significant escalation in domestic political tension.
The dismissal is part of a broader restructuring of Ukraine’s wartime leadership, a process that has already faced scrutiny over its timing and implications for military coordination.