President Volodymyr Zelensky does not intend to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister despite continuing public protests.
According to people close to the president cited by RBC-Ukraine, Zelensky considers the dismissal of former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky sufficient accommodation of the protesters’ demands and is unwilling to reverse his decision on Fedorov.
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According to the publication, the president’s willingness to “listen” or make concessions has limits. Sources portrayed Syrsky’s removal and the appointment of Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new military chief as fulfilling one of the demonstrators’ central demands.
However, the second demand, returning Fedorov to the defense ministry, is not expected to be met.
Fedorov had resigned on July 15 amid a planned government reshuffle by Zelensky, and a day later, accused Syrsky of division and hindering reforms, attributing his resignation to disputes with the former commander.
As a result, Zelensky appointed Yevhen Khmara, the former head of the Alpha special forces unit under the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to head the defense ministry.
Protests across Ukraine
Demonstrations were held in Kyiv and several other cities, with participants demanding Fedorov’s return and a change in the Armed Forces’ leadership.
Protests began after Fedorov was excluded from Ukraine’s new government amid reports of a prolonged conflict between him and Syrsky over military reforms.
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Zelensky previously said he understood and heard the public response, adding that Ukrainians had the right to demonstrate.
The protests, often described as the “cardboard protests” because of the handmade signs carried by participants, have continued despite Syrsky’s dismissal.
Organizers are now discussing changing the format of the demonstrations.
Instead of holding another stationary rally near Kyiv’s Ivan Franko Theater, participants could organize a march on Friday, around the time Zelensky is expected to return from his foreign trip.
People within the presidential team believe the demonstrations will eventually lose momentum unless organizers establish a more structured movement with a single, clearly defined objective.
“You cannot keep protesting for long simply ‘on vibes,’” one source told the publication.
The source compared unfocused demonstrations to Hyde Park, arguing that protests are most effective when participants unite around one clear demand rather than promote multiple unrelated causes.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that during the first wave of the so-called “cardboard protests” in the summer of 2025, officials discussed proposals to stage unspecified provocations at the demonstrations.
However, according to the publication’s sources, Zelensky rejected those proposals.
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