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Protests have been taking place in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. <\/b><\/p>\n
A crowd of people – mostly young – gathered in Kyiv, holding up signs reading “Hands off Fedorov” and “Stop sabotaging victory!” and chanting “Shame!”.<\/p>\n
Zelensky has not yet explained his decision, which is causing significant upset among commentators and the military as well as parts of civil society. <\/p>\n
Fedorov, 35, was appointed only in January 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.<\/p>\n
MPs were due to vote on Thursday on the proposed replacement as defence minister, Ihor Klymenko, who currently heads the interior ministry.<\/p>\n
As part of Zelensky’s reshuffle, parliament approved the appointment of state oil and gas boss Serhiy Koretsky as prime minister, after Yuliia Svyrydenko resigned earlier this week.<\/p>\n
There had been rumours that Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal was linked to tensions between him and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.<\/p>\n
At a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov all but confirmed that, saying he had suggested to Zelensky that Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov should be replaced.<\/p>\n
“When the president said he did not plan to replace Syrskyi, I… said I would learn to work with him,” Fedorov said. But “all the initiatives we proposed were blocked,” he added.<\/p>\n
“Instead of finding a way of defeating Russia asymmetrically – which is the commander-in-chief’s job – he’s found a way of splitting our country,” Fedorov said of Syrskiy.<\/p>\n
Fedorov also revealed that Zelensky offered him to stay on his team as an adviser, but that he refused.<\/p>\n
He was not seeking to antagonise the president, he explained, saying he was “confident” that Zelensky “hears the Ukrainian people, knows what to do, and the situation will be 100% resolved”.<\/p>\n
“I don’t believe he has yet chosen a side in the Syrskyi matter. I spoke with him today and said that I am acting according to my conscience,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n