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Protests erupt across Ukraine demanding reinstatement of dismissed Defense Minister Fedorov
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In Ukraine, sustained protests have erupted against President Zelenskyy's dismissal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who gained acclaim for drone production and attacks on Russian targets. Demonstrators, calling the movement 'Maidan with cardboard signs,' have gathered in Kyiv and other cities for days, demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. The protests were triggered by a conflict between Fedorov and former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was also dismissed under public pressure and replaced by General Mykhailo Drapatyi. While Drapatyi's appointment somewhat eased tensions, protesters remain determined, with many vowing to continue indefinitely until the president listens. The demonstrations feature soldiers, students, families, and creative signs, including slogans on pizza boxes and dog collars, chanting 'Power belongs to the people.' The article highlights a struggle over spheres of influence within Ukraine's wartime leadership.
Source report
Protest actions against the dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov, such as here in Kyiv on July 18, have been taking place for days in many cities of Ukraine. Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP/dpa
From Kyiv and Rivne By Julia Surkowa and Viktoriia Stadnychuk
"Reforms instead of machinations," chanted hundreds in the city center of Kyiv on Friday evening. Across Ukraine, people are currently protesting in many places against the dismissal of the popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Ukrainians have already given these protests the name "Maidan with cardboard signs" because demonstrators write their slogans on pizza boxes and shipping cartons. On this evening, however, most signs bore only one demand: "Give us back Fedorov!"
Background
The trigger for the protests was President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision in mid-July to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov became extremely popular in the country due to his successes in:
- Mass production and use of drones
- The blockade of Russian Starlink military terminals
- The development of attacks on military targets on Russian territory
This decision followed a conflict between Fedorov and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. On July 22, the Ukrainian president dismissed Syrskyi under pressure from street protests. He was replaced by General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who is considered a more modern and also more humane commander. This change was able to somewhat mitigate the anger in Ukrainian society. Yet protesters remain convinced that the government must comply with all their demands.
"Power Belongs to the People"
"From today, the protests will continue indefinitely. I don't think Zelenskyy will make a decision quickly, because this seems to be a struggle over spheres of influence. My friends and I will stay here until the end. We will come every day until the president listens to us," says 24-year-old political science student Yaroslav Bilyavskyi.
Behind Yaroslav, protesters are setting up a photo backdrop with cardboard figures of Fedorov and Drapatyi, Ukrainian flags, and the slogan "Thank you for Drapatyi. But what about Fedorov?"
As in previous days, numerous soldiers, students, and families with children had come. Many people were there with their dogs, with small cardboard signs attached to their collars reading "Give us back Fedorov, or I'll bite." People had drums, chanting "Power belongs to the people."
War in Ukraine
With the invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia's large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine began. The annexation of Crimea had already taken place in March 2014, and shortly thereafter the conflict in the eastern Ukrainian regions erupted.
➝ More on the topic of War in Ukraine
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern
Part of this Story
Ukraine's Defense Minister Fedorov Dismissed, Triggering Mass Protests