KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥� shook up his wartime government, drawing thousands into the streets Thursday across Ukraine to protest the ouster of his youthful defense minister 鈥� seen as an innovator of the country鈥檚 successful drone technology but who clashed with the traditional military establishment.
The personnel overhaul, which included replacing his prime minister, could become a test of Zelenskyy鈥檚 political authority as Ukraine鈥檚 fight against approaches 4陆 years. Zelenskyy has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited but has periodically reshuffled his government.
The moves threw Ukraine鈥檚 military leadership into an unwelcome crisis at a time when its actions against Russia are starting to and as Moscow has unleashed unrelenting aerial attacks. Two people were killed and five others were wounded, including a child, when Russian missiles hit the capital of Kyiv overnight, Ukraine鈥檚 Emergency Service said.
In making the changes, Zelenskyy cited friction between outgoing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and , the commander of Ukraine鈥檚 armed forces.
鈥淚鈥檓 just showing that if the sides can鈥檛 resolve an issue, I will have to resolve it,鈥� Zelenskyy said at a news conference.
The outgoing defense chief was seen as a modernizer
Fedorov, 35, is considered to be a vigorous modernizer whose technological expertise is credited in part with significantly improving Ukraine鈥檚 military performance in recent months against Russia鈥檚 bigger army. He is leaving the government after only six months in the post.
Fedorov appeared at a news conference in a dark T-shirt and jeans, and accused Syrskyi of blocking reforms needed because 鈥渢he war has changed completely鈥� due to new technology like drones.
During his time in office, he secured restrictions on Russian forces鈥� access to the Starlink satellite communications system, allowing Ukraine to better leverage giving Kyiv significant battlefield advantages.
Fedorov said he was willing to work with Syrskyi, 鈥渂ut we encountered a situation in which all the initiatives we proposed began to be blocked.鈥�
鈥淯nder this arrangement (with Syrskyi as commander), I personally do not know how the war can be won,鈥� he said.
On social media, Fedorov highlighted what he called his major achievements: redirecting funds earmarked for salaries into midrange strike capabilities, fiber-optic drones, reconnaissance systems and other technologies. He pointed to expanded drone procurement, Patriot missile defense contracts, successful ballistic missile tests and sweeping changes to military procurement.
But he acknowledged he was unable to complete the Defense Ministry鈥檚 organizational transformation 鈥渁ccording to NATO standards and common sense,鈥� and move all procurement to competitive tenders, and build a culture of accountability.
Syrskyi didn鈥檛 appear in public but in a Facebook post thanked Fedorov and said he hoped he would continue to serve Ukraine. “I wish him to continue to remain in the Ukrainian team,鈥� Syrskyi said without elaborating.
Zelenskyy said he had asked Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara to perform the defense minister’s duties in the meantime, according to a post on the Telegram messaging app. Since January, Khmara has been acting head of the state鈥檚 security service, known as the SBU. He had previously led the SBU鈥檚 elite Alpha special forces unit.
Zelenskyy described a difficult relationship between the Defense Ministry and the military at multiple levels, not simply a matter of personalities, and he said both sides share responsibility for the consequences.
鈥淭ogether we win, and together we鈥檙e responsible for the things that cause confusion and public reaction,鈥� he said, standing beside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was making his final foreign visit before leaving office next week.
Mostly young protesters support Fedorov
Syrskyi, 60, initially organized the defense of Kyiv in February 2022, and seven months later masterminded a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region. Born in 1965, he attended the Moscow Higher Military Command School before serving in the Soviet Artillery Corps before the USSR’s collapse in 1991.
The Ukrainian military has rallied under Fedorov, slowing Moscow鈥檚 front-line advance to a virtual standstill and striking refineries and other energy sites inside Russian territory, causing Western officials and analysts say. Zelenskyy鈥檚 decision to fire him despite that record has dismayed many people.
Before becoming defense minister in January, Fedorov headed Ukraine鈥檚 digital transformation policies. He won popularity by spearheading the rapid development and deployment of drone technology and introducing several successful e-government platforms.
As minister, he moved to combat corruption, an issue that carries particular weight with Ukrainians who have repeatedly protested graft. Fighting corruption meant working against the interests of groups that had long profited from programs within the ministry, he said in interviews. He also sought to overhaul weapons procurement to make it more transparent.
He had promised sweeping , saying it had faced about 200,000 desertions and draft-dodging by some 2 million people.
The mostly young protesters who took to the streets of Kyiv and other cities to support Fedorov made crude remarks about the current military commander, chanting, 鈥淪yrskyi, go away!鈥� and 鈥淎 European army for a European country!鈥�
Kyiv resident Bohdan Huryak said he was 鈥渄eeply outraged鈥� by Fedorov鈥檚 exit.
鈥淚鈥檓 not deeply invested in the internal political debates, but this is a person who shows results on the battlefield, we see results, we feel the fighting spirit and confidence in victory rising,鈥� Huryak told The Associated Press. 鈥淎nd then, six months later, he is removed from office? Come on.鈥�
Russian military correspondents and pro-Kremlin bloggers relished the controversy. Pro-Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov described Fedorov鈥檚 comments as a 鈥渞ebellion鈥� against Zelenskyy.
The deputy commander of Ukraine鈥檚 air force, Col. Pavlo Yelizarov, quit over Fedorov鈥檚 dismissal, saying on social media it will weaken Ukraine鈥檚 air defenses and lead to more deaths from Russian attacks.
鈥淚 believe that the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov is a great evil for the country鈥檚 defense capability,鈥� he wrote in his resignation letter on Facebook.
State energy company chief is new prime minister
Parliament overwhelmingly approved Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state energy company Naftogaz, as the country鈥檚 new prime minister.
In nominating Koretskyi, Zelenskyy cited his record in the energy sector and argued he was best prepared to guide Ukraine through another winter, when intensify.
Unlike other senior government officials, the 48-year-old engineer did not rise through political parties, parliament or the civil service. He spent more than two decades managing fuel and food businesses before being picked to run some of Ukraine鈥檚 most troubled state-owned energy companies and gained a reputation as an effective crisis manager who could make them profitable.
over his decisions. Large demonstrations broke out in July 2025 when he fast-tracked a law that would have curbed the independence of the country鈥檚 anti-corruption watchdogs.
The outcry threatened his leadership for the first time since Russia’s invasion, and he swiftly reversed course and submitted legislation to restore the agencies’ independence.
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Dan Bashakov and Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed.
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