PROTESTS PLANNED IN KYIV AND LVIV OVER FEODOROV’S DISMISSAL
Protests are set to take place today in Kyiv and Lviv following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as Ukraine’s Defense Minister.
The first rally is scheduled for 9:01 a.m. at Franko Square in Kyiv, organized by veteran Dmytro Kozyatynskyi. A second demonstration is planned in Lviv near the Taras Shevchenko Monument.
Kozyatynskyi criticized the decision, arguing that Ukraine is replacing a minister who was leading meaningful reforms during wartime.
“The Minister of Defense is being removed during effective reforms and replaced by a person under whom any reforms can be forgotten. We will never defeat Russia as long as our army and ministries are ruled by stagnation and corruption.”
Fedorov confirmed on Tuesday that he is leaving the post after serving since January 2026.
During his tenure, he highlighted several major achievements, including:
▪️ Cutting off Russian military access to Starlink.
▪️ Expanding Ukraine’s drone procurement and domestic drone production.
▪️ Reforming military procurement and weapons contracting.
▪️ Investing in long-range strike capabilities.
▪️ Advancing the testing and development of Ukrainian ballistic missiles.
He also acknowledged unfinished goals, including transitioning the Ministry of Defense to NATO organizational standards, moving all procurement to fully open tenders, and establishing a stronger culture of accountability.
According to members of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to nominate Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as Ukraine’s next Defense Ministe
The planned demonstrations reflect growing concern among some veterans, volunteers, and members of Ukraine’s defense innovation community, many of whom viewed Fedorov as one of the driving forces behind the country’s rapid military modernization.
