A rally calling for Fedorov's return drew about 20 people near the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv
On Tuesday, a protest calling for dialogue and reforms in the defense sector took place in Kyiv near the Verkhovna Rada building. About 20 people gathered for the rally on Hrushevsky Street.
Previously, these protesters had held demonstrations on Ivan Franko Square in the center of the capital, and on Sunday they organized a march along Khreshchatyk Street.
According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, no more than three dozen protesters are gathered in Mariinsky Park on the side of Hrushevsky Street. As in previous events, they called for Mykhailo Fedorov to be reinstated as defense minister, advocated for transparent decision-making within the Ministry of Defense and the military, and urged representatives of the ruling “Servant of the People” party to engage with the public.
They chanted “Servant of the People, serve the people,” “Shame,” “Transparent decisions,” “Reforms,” “Bring Back Fedorov,” and other slogans; they held banners and signs reading “Fedorov for Defense Minister,” “Kickbacks Are Death Sentences,” and others similar to those seen at past events.
On August 18, the Verkhovna Rada is holding its first plenary session since July 16. The agenda for Tuesday does not include appointments to the posts of Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the quota of the President of Ukraine. Protesters on Franko Square had previously spoken out against the recess in the parliament’s plenary sessions.
As reported, protests against the replacement of Ukraine’s defense minister—specifically, demanding that Mykhailo Fedorov remain in office—began on July 16. On that day, the Verkhovna Rada, upon the recommendation of newly appointed Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, approved the new composition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine; however, no Minister of Foreign Affairs or Minister of Defense was appointed under the president’s quota, as no nominations for these positions had been submitted.
On July 20, the government temporarily assigned the duties of Minister of Defense of Ukraine to Yevhen Khmara, whom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had relieved on July 17 of his temporary duties as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine and from his position as head of Special Operations Center “A” of the SBU.
On July 23, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov expressed his gratitude to Zelenskyy for all the proposed positions and stated that he wants to have a real impact on the course of the war, so he will not accept any position other than that of defense minister. According to the protest organizers, an indefinite protest began on July 24 to demand Fedorov’s appointment as defense minister.
At that time, the rallies on Franko Square drew several thousand participants. On August 14, a rally calling for Fedorov’s reinstatement, dialogue, and reforms in the defense sector drew about 300 participants, while up to 1,500 protesters took part in a march down Khreshchatyk on August 16.
This was reported with reference to Interfax-Ukraine.
Fedorov is not considering any options other than serving as defense minister.
