Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the Ivan Franko National Theatre in central Kyiv on Thursday to protest the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The protests, which local media reported also occurred in Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro, saw participants chanting "Shame!" and carrying signs stating "The Russians are celebrating."

The demonstrations occurred as Ukraine's parliament approved a new prime minister and followed a significant cabinet reshuffle initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology specialist, had been credited with reforming defence procurement and tackling corruption within the ministry. His tenure included efforts to disable "Starlink access for Russian forces" and expand domestic drone production.

Fedorov, who previously served as Ukraine's first minister for digital transformation, was lauded for streamlining bureaucracy and implementing a data-driven approach to the war effort. Supporters believe his reformist agenda and anti-corruption initiatives created opposition within established political and military circles. However, critics pointed to perceived delays in overhauling military recruitment processes.

President Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that his intention behind the reshuffle was to foster greater unity between the Ministry of Defence and military leadership, indirectly acknowledging reported tensions involving Fedorov. This cabinet change marks the second major reshuffle within a year for Zelenskyy's administration.

The parliamentary proceedings on Thursday also saw the confirmation of Naftogaz chief Sergiy Koretsky as Ukraine's new prime minister, succeeding Yulia Svyrydenko. Additionally, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is widely anticipated to assume the role of defence minister, taking over from Fedorov.

Koretsky led Ukraine's state-owned energy company, Naftogaz, through a challenging winter period marked by repeated Russian drone and missile attacks targeting the nation's energy infrastructure. The context of ongoing conflict with Russia underscores the significance of these internal government changes.

Fedorov himself commented on X, formerly Twitter, expressing that it had been "a great honour to serve the Ukrainian people" as defence minister. He used the platform to highlight his ministry's key accomplishments during his time in office.

The presidential office, located near the protest site, was the scene of a "cardboard protest" last July. That demonstration successfully pressured Zelenskyy to reverse a controversial measure that had undermined the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, indicating the potential impact of public dissent.