‘Change or Perish’: Thousands Rally in Kyiv Against Fedorov’s Dismissal

A protest against the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov gathered near the Ivan Franko Theater in central Kyiv on Thursday morning, according to a Kyiv Post correspondent.

Several thousand people assembled in the square outside the theater, demanding that President Volodymyr Zelensky reverse his decision and keep Fedorov in office. 

The location carries strong symbolic significance. The Ivan Franko Theater is just steps from the Presidential Office and was the site of the mass protests in July 2025, when thousands of Ukrainians rallied after parliament voted to strip the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of their independence.

Those demonstrations became the largest anti-government protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. 

As rallies spread across the country, Zelensky reversed the decision within days and restored the agencies’ independence.

This rally was organized through social media on Wednesday evening.

Financial Times Kyiv correspondent Christopher Miller shared on X that organizers of last year’s NABU protests had called for a new demonstration ahead of parliament’s expected vote on Ukraine’s new Cabinet.

“The organizers of last July’s major demonstration against Zelensky’s moves to undermine the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau are calling on Ukrainians to gather at the same square at 9:01 a.m. on Thursday,” Miller wrote on X.

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Protests Planned Over Fedorov's Dismissal as Defense Minister

Organizers cite Zelensky's lack of explanation for sacking Fedorov as key grievance.

He added that “a large segment of Ukrainian society is deeply unhappy” with Zelensky’s decision to dismiss Fedorov, particularly because “the president has not given a clear reason for it.”

Protesters filled Franko Square carrying banners criticizing the dismissal as politically motivated and harmful to ongoing reforms. Among the slogans are “Change or Perish” and “Efficiency Is Contraindicated.”

Many demonstrators described Fedorov as one of the government’s most effective ministers and argued that his removal could halt defense reforms and reinforce outdated post-Soviet approaches to governance.

People continued arriving throughout the morning, with organizers expecting the demonstration to last until the evening. Police at the scene said no incidents or public safety concerns had been reported.

Fedorov’s dismissal is part of a broader government reshuffle that also saw Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko leave office. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is widely expected to replace him as defense minister.

The shake-up has drawn concern from opposition politicians and analysts. Speaking to Reuters, Holos party lawmaker Inna Sovsun said she was “very frightened” by the prospect of renewed instability at the defense ministry.

“Previously, Denys Shmyhal served as minister for half a year. He made promises, started implementing them, and was dismissed,” Sovsun said. “If the same thing happens to Mykhailo Fedorov, it will not be funny at all.”

Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko, director of the Penta Center for Political Studies, also warned that removing Fedorov could disrupt key military reforms at a critical stage of the war, echoing concerns voiced by opposition lawmakers, Reuters reported.

European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius described Fedorov’s resignation as unexpected and stressed that Ukraine’s agreements with the EU on financing weapons and drone production should remain in force.

In an interview with European Pravda, Kubilius said he was surprised by reports that Fedorov could leave office.

“Sometimes government changes are necessary. We have also heard from our counterparts in Kyiv that the new prime minister is well suited for the position,” he said.

At the same time, Kubilius said his main concern was who would oversee Ukraine’s defense sector and what would happen to the defense minister.

“We have worked very closely with Mykhailo Fedorov, both before and especially after he became defense minister. During that period, we achieved a great deal together, including the almost daily strikes on targets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk, Crimea, and elsewhere,” he said.

Commenting on Fedorov’s departure, Kubilius said the move would raise questions within the EU about why such a key official was being replaced.

Fedorov, who became defense minister in January 2026 after serving as deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation, had already faced calls for his resignation earlier this month following a controversial mobilization incident in Lviv that drew criticism from several lawmakers, including MP Roman Kaptielov.