Protests in Ukraine Back Fired Defense Minister: Who's Next to Lead the Ministry?.

Mikhail Fedorov's Dismissal

According to Espreso.tv: On July 15, Mikhail Fedorov announced his resignation as Minister of Defense, a move that sparked public outcry and led to a rally in his support. Protesters argued that his removal was a detrimental blow to national defense capabilities. One demonstrator, Dmitry Kozyatinsky, stated:

“We need to modernize the army now, we need drones.” - Dmitry Kozyatinsky

Leadership Shake-Up at the Defense Ministry

Further changes followed on July 16, when Ministerial Advisor Sergey Sternenko stepped down, and Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force Pavlo Yelizarov submitted his resignation. Commenting on Fedorov's dismissal, Yelizarov remarked:

“The removal of Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov is a major blow to the country’s defense capability.” - Pavlo Yelizarov

Amid these developments, Igor Klymenko is widely discussed as a potential successor for the defense portfolio. Rally participants see this as a pivotal decision and hope it will lead to improvements in the defense sector.

The abrupt departure of Fedorov and other senior officials has raised concerns about the stability of Ukraine's defense policy. With security challenges mounting, the appointment of a new minister—likely Igor Klymenko—is seen as a critical test for the country's future defense posture, and the public is closely watching how the situation unfolds.