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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to replace Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister sparked protests outside Ukraine's parliament in Kyiv on Wednesday. Demonstrators held posters and chanted slogans against the move.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Ukrainian parliament, chanting for the return of Fedorov as defense minister and demanding a dialogue with the government.
Inside, lawmakers confirmed the country's new defense minister, officially completing a leadership shake-up that began a month earlier when the dismissal of Fedorov sparked widespread public anger.
The vote followed a Tuesday broadcast by Fedorov, who insisted that democracy must not be held hostage by Russia. He told viewers that Ukraine continues to fight on the front lines specifically to protect its future as a free European state.
President Zelenskyy has named veteran intelligence officer Yevgeniy Khmara to head the defense ministry. The move follows the high-profile ouster of Fedorov and the commander-in-chief last month after a fierce public feud broke out between the military and the defense ministry.
The appointment passed overwhelmingly in parliament, with 312 lawmakers voting in favor and only two against. Praising the decision on social media, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine needs more strength and will secure it
Separately, Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies said they were conducting a special operation targeting current and former MPs as well as an unnamed official in the presidential office.
Hours later, Zelenskyy's office announced the dismissal of deputy head Iryna Mudra following local media reports of a raid on her property. While Mudra has not yet issued a statement, member of parliament Vadym Stolar—whose home was also searched during the anti-corruption raid—confirmed he is cooperating fully with investigators.
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