Protests in Ukraine Over Defence Minister's Removal Escalate
Thousands of protesters have gathered in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities over the past week to demand the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and the dismissal of armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to local reports.
Army veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi issued a statement on social media warning that if Syrskyi is not removed and Fedorov reinstated by Friday, an 'open-ended nationwide protest' would begin.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has been consulting with ministers and military leaders to address the crisis, Ukrainian media reported over the weekend. The general staff denied rumours that Syrskyi had been or was about to be sacked.
Another report indicated that Fedorov had declined an offer to return to a different government position. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the president's office, urged calm and acknowledged the public's concerns in a statement on Tuesday.
'The situation surrounding the latest internal changes has caused strong emotions,' Budanov wrote. 'I understand people who express their position. The position of society has been heard.'
The protests occur as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia's invasion, adding internal political tensions to the external military challenge.
