Thousands March in Kyiv for Fedorov's Return as Ukraine Protests Enter 3rd Week
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 31
Thousands March in Kyiv for Fedorov's Return as Ukraine Protests Enter 3rd Week
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 31
Summary
Thousands rallied in downtown Kyiv on July 31, marking the 16th day of protests demanding President Volodymyr Zelensky reinstate former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The larger turnout followed Fedorov's July 29 interview suggesting his push to make defense procurement more transparent may have contributed to his dismissal.
Zelensky has shown no sign of reversing course, though he already met one protest demand by replacing Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi with General Mykhailo Drapatyi.
The president instead offered Fedorov another senior government role focused on technology, but Fedorov has said he will serve only as defense minister.
The demonstrations, which began in mid-July and have also spread to other cities, have become a broader call for dialogue and reform in Ukraine's defense establishment.