Protesters in Kyiv, Ukraine, are demanding that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reappoint ousted defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The protests, which peaked last week with thousands of angry Ukrainians taking to the streets, are calling for Fedorov’s reinstatement and the dismissal of former commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Protesters’ Demands
The protesters, who are being led by military veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, believe that Fedorov’s dismissal was unjust and that he is needed to continue the country’s defense reforms. Fedorov, who is credited with introducing tech-driven reforms and tackling corruption in the defense sector, was offered several roles by Zelenskiy, including vice prime minister for defense innovation, but he publicly dismissed the offer, stating that the posts did not carry sufficient influence to proceed with necessary reforms.
The protests come as Ukraine is fighting for the upper hand in its war with Russia, conducting strikes on military and energy targets deep inside Russian territory. The country remains exposed to Russia’s deadly air attacks and frontline assaults, and the protesters believe that Fedorov’s leadership is crucial to the country’s defense.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
