Ukrainians hold protests in several cities on July 16 after President Volodymyr Zelensky removes Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov from office. Multiple outlets report that demonstrators gather in response to the Wednesday dismissal and call on Zelensky to reappoint him. The protests are described as rare during wartime, following a wave of last summer demonstrations that had supported Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. According to reports, Fedorov, who was appointed about six months earlier, has built a reputation among supporters as a reformer and moderniser, including efforts to change aspects of the military that has been strained by more than four years of Russia’s invasion.
Kyiv Post and Euronews also note that public mobilization begins online, with social media posts and organizing efforts leading to calls for people to gather in person across the country on Thursday morning. Coverage from France 24 emphasizes that protesters react to Fedorov’s dismissal and portray him as widely popular, while all sources align on the timing, the nationwide nature of the demonstrations, and the central demand to reverse the decision.
