In clear evidence of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s popularity in civil society, Ukrainians have organised a rare wartime protest to defend and support him.
The calls to demonstrate emerged on social media almost immediately after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov on Wednesday evening.
Social media anger over the decision quickly turned into plans to gather across major cities at 09:01 on Thursday, immediately after a daily nationwide minute of silence which commemorates fallen Ukrainian fighters and civilians.
It is the first time since last summer’s protests in support of Ukraine’s anti‑corruption watchdogs that online mobilisation has spilled back onto the streets, with demonstrators directing their frustration squarely at Zelenskyy’s decision.
Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran who was a leading organiser of last summer's mass protests in support of NABU and SAPO, posted on social media ”The defence minister is being removed in the middle of effective – finally effective! – reforms, replaced by someone under whom any hope of reform can be forgotten," referring to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who is poised to replace Fedorov.
