Ukraine Fires Its Defence Minister; Crowds Want Him Back

Ukraine's president fired his defence minister, Fedorov, on July 15, 2026, after just seven months. Fedorov turned down the president's offer to stay as a government adviser. Protesters gathered in Kyiv and other cities; one told Al Jazeera she wanted Fedorov as president. An analyst said most Ukrainians praised Fedorov, while another military leader, Syrskii, was "utterly unpopular."