Zelenskyy mulls army changes as protests rock Ukraine for third day

Defence minister was sacked earlier this week

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Published Jul 18, 2026  •  Last updated 4 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Mykhailo Fedorov, who championed drones and military reform, was sacked earlier this week in a government reshuffle. Photo by John Thys /Getty Images

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KYIV (Ukraine) (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday hinted at potential changes in the army, as rare wartime protests over the removal of a popular defence minister rocked the country for a third day.

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Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, a tech-savvy minister who championed drones and military reform, was sacked earlier this week in a controversial government reshuffle by Zelenskyy.

The demonstrations came as the president held two days of meetings with top military commanders, amid media speculation he could be looking for a replacement for army chief Oleksandr Syrsky.

“There were many consultations yesterday and today. Of course, I hear what people are saying,” Zelenskyy said in an evening address, adding that he had spoken with both Syrsky and Fedorov.

“Decisions regarding the army will be developed,” he said.

In Kyiv, an AFP reporter saw protesters clapping and banging the cardboard placards that became a symbol of last summer’s anti-government protests, chanting “shame” and “Fedorov.”

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In his first reaction to the protests, Fedorov wrote on Telegram: “I thank you for the hope.”

“There is dialogue. I believe everything will work out,” he added.

Rallies were also announced in other major Ukrainian cities, according to organizers.

Demonstrators also called for the resignation of Syrsky, who reportedly had demanded Fedorov’s dismissal after the two clashed over how to counter the Russian invasion.

During his barely six months in the post, Fedorov repeatedly argued with Syrsky, 60, in his efforts to digitize and modernize an army strained by four and a half years of fighting.

A day after being forced out, Fedorov on Thursday held an extraordinary press conference at which he accused the commander of dividing the country.

He criticized slow bureaucracy and a lack of flexibility, questioning whether Ukraine could defeat Russia with Syrsky in charge of the army.

Following Fedorov’s accusations, Syrsky, who led Kyiv’s defence in the crucial first months of the 2022 invasion, called for a focus on “the war and on an effective strategy that is currently yielding concrete results.”

The political turmoil comes as Ukraine appears to have stabilized the front, with its long-range strikes beginning to take a toll on daily life inside Russia.

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