Mass protests in Ukraine after Zelensky sacks popular defence minister | BBC News

The surprise removal by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's of the popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has caused an outburst of anger and mass protests.

A crowd of mostly young people gathered in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities holding banners reading "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging victory!" and chanting "Shame!".

Fedorov, who was appointed in January, has been credited with energising the ministry and recent successes in carrying out missile and drone attacks deep inside Russia.

Zelensky has put forward Major General Yevhenii Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service, as acting defence minister.

Zelensky said: "Khmara has gained extensive and, in many respects, unprecedented experience with technological combat operations.”

Rumours that Fedorov's removal was related to tensions between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi were all but confirmed by Fedorov himself and Zelensky.

Fedorov said he had suggested to Zelensky that Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov should be replaced.

Zelensky, speaking at a press conference, acknowledged that the conflict between the General Staff and the defence ministry had been "systemic" Syrskyi and Fedorov would only work together with his mediation.

Fedorov was appointed only in January 2026 but has been credited with energising the ministry, heading a drive against corruption and using data to analyse and try to improve performance on the front line.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Paul Adams in Kyiv.

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