July 16, 2026 / 5:03 AM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Kyiv, Ukraine — Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Kyiv Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as part of a cabinet shakeup that had already raised eyebrows for its timing. The reshuffle comes right as Ukraine is seen by many analysts as turning the tide slowly against Russia's nearly 4½-year full-scale invasion. The decision to oust Fedorov as part of the shakeup came as Ukraine's parliament convened to appoint a new prime minister, a day after lawmakers accepted Yulia Svyrydenko's resignation. CBS News' Aidan Stretch reports that many observers have credited the outgoing cabinet with Ukraine's recent successes in countering Russia's assault. The reshuffle could become a test of Zelenskyy's political authority as Ukraine's fight against Russia continues.
Protesters chant slogans and wave a Ukranian national flag as they take part in a demonstration against Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, in Kyiv on July 16, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
