Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing a domestic political crisis, with daily protests continuing in Ukraine after the dismissal of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Mr Fedorov, who was removed during a government reshuffle earlier this month, has since declined alternative senior ministerial posts.
Mr Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister in January and was seen as a modernising, tech-savvy reformist. He is credited with improving pay and modernising contracts for infantry, introducing transparent procurement processes, and identifying significant military overspend. He also reportedly requested Elon Musk switch off Starlink for Russian soldiers, which Mr Musk obliged.
Polling found that 72% of respondents were against Mr Fedorov’s dismissal. Although Mr Zelenskyy later sacked former army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and invited Mr Fedorov back into government, Mr Fedorov has turned down other positions. He stated that only three state positions—president, defence minister, and commander-in-chief—determine the course of the war.
This is not the first time Mr Zelenskyy has made personnel decisions that have been met with public opposition. In July 2025, protests erupted after his government proposed stripping two anti-corruption bodies of their independence, a move he later reversed under public pressure.