KYIV — For the second straight day, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets outside Ukraine’s presidential office, demanding the ouster of the country’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The protests erupted following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s surprise government shake-up that pushed out widely respected defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov, a 35-year-old known for his technological expertise, had been widely credited with contributing to some of Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes against Russia. His removal in the unexpected reshuffle sparked immediate public fury and calls for a more forward-thinking military strategy.
Among those who showed up to protest was Andriy, a 27-year-old combat medic who lost part of his lower limb in the war and whose brother was killed in combat. He arrived carrying a handmade cardboard sign reading: “Can not stand. Will not stay silent.”
“Syrskyi had conflicts not only with the defence minister, but also with brigade and corps commanders. If he stays, we will simply be ineffective,” Andriy said. “We could simply lose this war, we could lose.”
Zelenskiy offered minimal explanation for the shake-up, saying he was forced to act because the divide between Syrskyi and Fedorov had grown so deep that the two men refused to sit at the same table.
On Friday, Zelenskiy named Ukraine’s former top law enforcement official, Ihor Klymenko, to head the national security and defence council, replacing current chairman Rustem Umerov. Klymenko had previously been floated as a possible replacement for Fedorov himself. The president said Klymenko would be responsible for coordinating “all components of the security and defence sector,” including defence production.
It remained unclear whether Umerov — who also serves as Ukraine’s lead negotiator in U.S.-backed peace discussions with Russia — would be offered another role in the government.
Late Thursday, as public anger intensified, Zelenskiy moved to ease tensions by appointing Yevhenii Khmara, a senior security official overseeing Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian territory, as acting defence minister.
Crowds outside the presidential building chanted “Syrskyi away” and “Bring Fedorov back,” with many calling on leadership to heed the voices of soldiers actively fighting on the front lines.
The tension between Fedorov and Syrskyi came into full public view Thursday when the former defence minister accused the 60-year-old general of deliberately undermining his efforts. Syrskyi earned recognition for his role in defending Kyiv during the early stages of the war and has held the top military post since early 2024. However, he has drawn sustained criticism for an inflexible leadership style that some soldiers say leads to unnecessary casualties, along with resistance to modernizing battlefield tactics.
Another demonstrator, Nina, whose husband is currently serving in the military, attended the protest for a second day, bringing along her one-year-old child, Oleksandr-Carlos. Her primary demand is Syrskyi’s removal.
“The problem isn’t so much that Fedorov resigned as it is that Syrskyi remains in office,” she said, adding that the system under the commander prioritizes showing results over protecting soldiers’ lives.
“Sure, he deserves some credit, I don’t deny that but at what cost? That’s the question. Syrskyi is, after all, the old system,” Nina said.
The demonstrations drew comparisons to protests held at the same location last year, when crowds pushed back against Zelenskiy’s efforts to reduce the authority of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies — a move he eventually reversed.
On Friday, Zelenskiy held virtual consultations with military commanders and met in person with Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, who leads Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, to review the battlefield situation and defense planning.
In a move intended to reassure the public that reforms championed by Fedorov would continue, Zelenskiy named Serhii Beskrestnov, a former adviser to the defence ministry, as a presidential adviser on defence technology.
The political turmoil comes as Ukrainian forces have begun regaining some momentum against Russian troops through long-range strikes targeting Russian industry and supply lines. Still, Ukraine continues to struggle with military recruitment shortfalls as Russian forces push forward, and with obtaining sufficient air defense systems to protect its cities from missile attacks.
Many Ukrainians believe the path to victory runs through technological advancement and shedding outdated Soviet-era military practices — something they argue cannot happen under Syrskyi’s leadership.
Leonid, a 63-year-old veteran who described himself as a product of the Soviet military system, put it plainly: “They are destroying our army. Maybe at some point he was necessary, but that is it.”
