Zelensky Faces Political Crisis Over Ukraine Defense Minister Shake-Up

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Ukrainian protesters gathered in Kyiv for a fifth straight day on Monday, July 20, to oppose the removal of Defense Minister Fedorov, in the country’s longest-running and most war-linked protest since Russia’s invasion. The demonstrations followed Fedorov’s resignation on Wednesday, July 15, as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s cabinet reshuffle plan, after which his supporters began days of rallies on Thursday, July 16. Fedorov said at a news conference that Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi had issued Zelensky an ultimatum that led to his dismissal, and accused Syrskyi of dividing the country while calling for his removal. Syrskyi later published a lengthy statement in Ukraine’s Militarnyi, denying any internal conflict with Fedorov and saying he had not told Zelensky to fire him. He wrote that he was not fighting the defense ministry but Russia, and that his job was combat, strategy, the front line and personnel. Analysts said the longer Zelensky keeps Syrskyi in place as calls for his resignation grow, the deeper Ukraine’s social and political conflict will become.