Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets to protest against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's sacking of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who clashed with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The protests prompted Zelenskyy to fire the general and offer Fedorov a "prominent" role, along with a promise to overhaul the army command.
Fedorov's reforms and clash with Syrskyi
Fedorov, credited with improving military performance and reducing corruption, launched a scathing attack on Syrskyi after his dismissal, accusing him of blocking reforms and refusing to cooperate. Syrskyi viewed Fedorov as exceeding his remit and taking control of units. The two also disagreed over Fedorov's plans to improve recruitment and training to address anger over the conscription system. The conflict pitted a Soviet-schooled military officer against a young civilian disruptor.
Impact on war momentum
The row risks imperilling Ukraine's regained momentum in the war against Russia, after last summer's nadir. Moscow has failed to translate a massive expansion of ground forces into a decisive advantage, and its spring offensive fell short of ambitions. Ukraine is taking the fight to the aggressor, with civilian casualties on both sides rising 37% in the first half of the year, according to the UN. Attacks on logistics and infrastructure inside Russia have led to fuel rationing, though Moscow may be stabilising supply. Crimea, annexed in 2014, is struggling with shortages.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former commander-in-chief and ambassador to London, warned against believing Russia had lost, saying it counts on its size and weakening international support to exhaust Ukraine.
International and domestic concerns
The US president was positive after meeting Zelenskyy at the Nato summit, but European enthusiasm for sanctions is wavering. Western leaders are watching the domestic crisis with concern and want stability. Ukrainians understand wartime may require different leadership, but they have not given Zelenskyy a blank cheque. Concerns arose when he fired Zaluzhnyi in 2024, and protests a year ago forced him to reverse a decision to strip anti-corruption agencies of their independence.
The crisis is an unwelcome distraction from Ukraine's military and diplomatic successes, but it demonstrates that Zelenskyy remains answerable to the public. That accountability, unimaginable in Russia, is a reminder of why Ukraine is fighting.
