Zelenskyy Sacks Defence Minister Fedorov, Backs Army Chief Syrskyi in Civil-Military Rift

On July 16, 2026, President Zelenskyy defended dismissing Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, citing a "challenging dialogue" with Commander-in-Chief Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. "The sides have not found it," Zelenskyy said of unity, adding, "you have a choice: either one side or the other." The move backed the operational chief over the civilian defence portfolio. Over 1,000 protesters gathered in Kyiv — only the second large anti-government protest since Russia's 2022 invasion.