Ukraine protests erupt over Zelenskyy's dismissal of popular Defense Minister Fedorov

Published Jul 25, 10:39 AM UTC

In Ukraine, sustained protests have erupted against President Zelenskyy's government reshuffle, specifically the dismissal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The protests, dubbed 'Maidan with cardboard signs' due to demonstrators using pizza boxes and shipping cartons for slogans, have been ongoing for days in multiple cities including Kyiv and Rivne. The trigger was Zelenskyy's mid-July decision to dismiss Fedorov, who gained popularity for successes in drone production, blocking Russian Starlink terminals, and developing attacks on Russian territory. This followed a conflict between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was also dismissed on July 22 under protest pressure and replaced by General Mykhailo Drapatyi. While Drapatyi's appointment somewhat mitigated anger, protesters remain determined, with one student stating they will continue indefinitely until the president listens. The protests feature soldiers, students, families, and even dogs with signs, chanting 'Power belongs to the people.'

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