Zelenskyy under growing pressure to reinstate sacked defence minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces mounting political pressure as public protests continue in Kyiv. Demonstrators demand the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed from his role as defense minister last week. Despite the president replacing commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi, the unrest shows no signs of cooling down.

Fedorov, known for his focus on modernizing the military through technology, reportedly declined a government offer to serve as deputy prime minister for technological development. He insists that his original position as defense minister is necessary to execute his plans for army reform. Currently, special forces commander Yevhenii Khmara holds the acting defense minister title.

Protest organizers have scheduled a rally for Friday at the presidential office in Ivana Franka Square. Veterans and activists argue that society expects the government to reverse the decision. Military observers note that Zelenskyy is in a difficult position where reinstating Fedorov could be seen as a sign of weakness, yet refusing to do so risks sustaining the current wave of public demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the new military leadership is shifting its strategic focus. Commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi has received instructions to intensify offensive operations across all fronts, including planning deep-strike missions behind enemy lines. The military command remains under scrutiny as the country continues to conduct long-range strikes against targets within Russian territory to disrupt the ongoing conflict. With protests set to continue, the political situation in Kyiv remains volatile as the administration attempts to balance internal stability with the demands of an ongoing war.