En direct, guerre en Ukraine – Indignation en Ukraine après le départ du ministre de la Défense Mykhaïlo Fedorov

Protests Erupt Across Ukraine Following Defense Minister’s Departure

Widespread demonstrations took place in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities on Thursday as citizens gathered to protest the departure of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The protests, which included rallies in Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Lviv, follow President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to remove the 35-year-old minister as part of a broader government reshuffle.

The unrest reached the capital’s presidential palace, where protesters—including staff from the digital media outlet United24—expressed their disapproval of the cabinet changes. The removal of Fedorov, who was appointed in January 2026, has sparked criticism even within the president’s own “Servant of the People” party. One lawmaker, speaking to the *Kyiv Independent* under condition of anonymity, described the decision as a “betrayal” and a significant political risk for the head of state.

Tensions Between Military Leadership and Technology Strategy

According to Ukrainian media and various parliamentarians, the catalyst for Fedorov’s dismissal was a deep-seated conflict with the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Observers, such as veteran and anti-corruption council head Yuriy Hudymenko, have characterized the friction as a clash between a “young technocrat” and a general representative of a “largely post-Soviet” military school.

Many protesters explicitly targeted General Syrskyi during the demonstrations. Margarita Grechko, a 27-year-old participant working in military technology, echoed the sentiments of many attendees by labeling the commander a “butcher.” Protesters held signs criticizing the general’s tactical approach, accusing him of conducting “cannon fodder” assaults that have led to high casualties.

In contrast, supporters of the outgoing minister lauded his emphasis on innovation. “The goal of Fedorov is that people fight less and that drones fight more,” Grechko stated, adding that he had proven this approach through his actions.

Fedorov’s Tenure and Military Reforms

Since taking office in January 2026, Fedorov sought to modernize the defense apparatus to counter the ongoing Russian invasion. His tenure was marked by:

* Technological Focus: Promoting the use of drones to mitigate shortages of soldiers, funds, and ammunition.
* Logistical Operations: Overseeing campaigns that disrupted Russian military supply lines to occupied Crimea.
* Personnel Management: Implementing policies aimed at improving soldier rotation and creating a new system for managing military effectives.
* Infrastructure Security: Orchestrating the successful blocking of Russian forces’ use of Starlink systems in February 2026.

Fedorov, who previously served as Minister of Digital Transformation, acknowledged that his efforts to align the ministry with NATO standards and implement a culture of accountability remained unfinished at the time of his departure.

Broader Political and Military Context

The reshuffle, which also saw the resignation of Prime Minister Iulia Svyrydenko, has prompted further instability within the defense sector. Pavlo Yelizarov, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force and a prominent figure in drone warfare, announced his resignation on Thursday in protest of Fedorov’s removal. He warned that the loss of the minister could lead to increased human losses on the front lines.

As the political situation remains fluid, the Ukrainian Parliament approved Serhiy Koretskyi, the current director of the state energy group Naftogaz, as the new Prime Minister with 289 votes in favor. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Ministry of the Interior, currently led by General Ihor Klymenko, may be the intended destination for the defense portfolio, though this remains part of a rapidly changing government landscape.

These domestic developments occur against a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic and security challenges. On Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with officials in Kiev to express concern regarding the expansion of the war into the Black Sea region and to advocate for a resumption of negotiations between Kiev and Moscow. Additionally, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned a recent attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which resulted in the death of an engineer—an incident for which Russia has blamed Ukraine.

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