Public radio’s longest-running daily global news program.AboutContactDonateMeet the TeamPrivacyTerms of use©2026 The World from PRXPRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.Ukraine’s defense minister dismissed amid cabinet changesUkrainians took to the streets of Kyiv Thursday to protest the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During Fedorov’s tenure, Ukraine saw successes in slowing Russian advances. To learn more, The World’s Host Marco Werman spoke to Oleksiy Sorokin, the deputy chief editor of the Kyiv Independent, who joined the show from Kyiv. UkraineJuly 17, 2026Updated: July 17, 20266:25Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov speaks to journalists during a joint press conference with Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson in Kyiv, Ukraine, July 1, 2026.Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv on Thursday. They waved Ukrainian and European Union flags and protested the dismissal of the country’s defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Fedorov had only been in the position for six months. This is happening as Ukraine is seeing success in slowing Russian advances on the front lines, and just after the resignation of Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko earlier this week.To learn more, The World’s Host Marco Werman spoke with Oleksiy Sorokin, the deputy chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, who joined from the Ukrainian capital.Well, basically, the reason for his firing seemed to be that the military leadership, which is considered to be part of the old guard, Soviet-type military leadership, was sabotaging his reforms. And he publicly said after he was fired that he proposed to President Zelenskyy firing the military leadership of Ukraine, and Zelenskyy decided not to do that. And so, the conflict was out in the open, and one of the two men, either Fedorov or the head of the army, [Oleksandr] Syrskyi, had to go. And President Zelenskyy decided to [take] Syrskyi’s side.People gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, July 16, 2026, Kyiv, Ukraine. Placard reads “Bring back Fedorov. Do not destroy defense capability.” Danylo Antoniuk/APUkranians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, Kyiv, Ukraine, July 16, 2026. Placard reads: Bring back Fedorov. Do not destroy defense capability. Danylo Antoniuk/API would disagree with this. Obviously, for the international public, Zelenskyy is the face of Ukraine, right? He has conducted a pretty successful foreign policy. Obviously, few people would criticize how Zelenskyy is running foreign affairs, and this is true. But domestically, Zelenskyy has made some controversial and unpopular decisions, and in Ukraine, I would say that his popularity is mixed. If we would have elections, say, next week, then I would say Zelenskyy would not win Ukrainian elections. In Ukraine, there’s a lot of criticism toward the president, and this is not the first time there’s street protests against his decisions. Last time, actually last July, President Zelenskyy signed a law into force to strip anti-corruption institutions of their independence. And following street protests and also calls from Brussels, Zelenskyy overturned that decision. And so, people currently protesting hope that their presence on the streets in front of the president’s office can force the president to backtrack and reappoint Mr. Fedorov.Parts of this interview have been lightly edited for length and clarity.