Protesters in Kyiv called for the dismissal of Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s removal of a popular defence minister sparked outrage and demands for a more modern approach to warfare.
Several thousand people gathered outside the presidential office for a second day after Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech wizard who has been partly credited with Ukraine’s recent successes in the war with Russia, was not reappointed in a surprise government reshuffle.
A 27-year-old protester named Andriy, a combat medic who lost his lower limb, came with a cardboard sign saying: “Can not stand. Will not stay silent”.
“Syrskyi had conflicts not only with the defence minister, but also with brigade and corps commanders. If he stays, we will simply be ineffective,” said Andriy, whose brother died on the battlefield.
“We could simply lose this war, we could lose,” he added.
Zelenskiy provided little explanation for the reshuffle and said he had to step in since the rift between Syrskyi and Fedorov was so deep they won’t sit at one table.
On Friday, he tapped Ukraine’s former top cop, Ihor Klymenko, to lead the national security and defence council, replacing current Chairman Rustem Umerov.
Klymenko, who had initially been among the names as a likely Fedorov replacement, would be tasked with coordinating “all components of the security and defence sector”, including defence production, president added.
It was unclear whether Umerov, also Ukraine’s top negotiator in U.S.-backed peace talks with Russia, would be offered a new post.
A top security operative overseeing Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia, Yevhenii Khmara, was appointed as acting defence minister as Zelenskiy moved to calm down public outrage late on Thursday.
AT WHAT COST?
Protesters rallied for a second day outside Zelenskiy’s office, chanting “Syrskyi away” and “Bring Fedorov back”. Many called to listen to the voices of those currently fighting.
Fedorov’s conflict with Syrskyi came into the open on Thursday after the former defence minister accused the 60-year-old general of sabotaging his work.
Syrskyi, 60, played a key role in Kyiv’s defence in the early days of the war and has been in his top post since early 2024. But he has faced harsh criticism for a rigid command style which some service members have said results in high troop losses and also for unwillingness to modernise combat.
Another protester named Nina, whose husband is serving, came to the demonstration for a second day, with a one-year-old Oleksandr-Carlos. Her first demand is Syrskyi’s dismissal.