Zelensky Says Fedorov-Syrsky Dispute ‘Problem of the Parties, but Also Mine’

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainians were justified in taking to the streets to protest the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, saying public demonstrations are a natural part of democracy.

When speaking on Thursday, Zelensky explained, “I understand, I hear, and I respond to what society is saying.”

“People are doing what they want. They wanted to come out – and they were right to do so,” he added.

The comments came in response to protests following Fedorov’s removal from the post of defense minister, a decision that sparked criticism and public demonstrations in several cities across Ukraine, especially in Kyiv.

According to state media Ukrinform, Zelensky said the decision stemmed from persistent problems in coordination between the defense ministry and Ukraine’s military leadership.

Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the president said efforts to improve cooperation between the two sides had ultimately failed.

“I would like unity very much. The parties did not find it. And this is not only the problem of the parties, but also mine,” Zelensky added.

Fedorov confirmed the dispute and accused Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky and top commanders in the General Staff of hindering reforms during an emergency press briefing on Thursday.

Despite the decision, Zelensky acknowledged the public reaction and said citizens have every right to express disagreement with government actions, as criticism mounted over the reshuffle in Ukraine’s defense leadership.

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“We are fighting for freedom and democracy,” he said, adding that the government remains attentive to public opinion.

Rare wartime protests erupt in Kyiv

According to a Kyiv Post correspondent, a protest against Fedorov’s dismissal gathered near the Ivan Franko Theater in central Kyiv on Thursday morning.

Several thousand people assembled in the square outside the theater, demanding that Zelensky reverse his decision and keep Fedorov in office.

Many demonstrators described Fedorov as one of the government’s most effective ministers and argued that his removal could halt defense reforms and reinforce outdated post-Soviet approaches to governance.

Protesters filled Franko Square carrying banners criticizing the dismissal as politically motivated and harmful to ongoing reforms. Among the slogans are “Change or Perish” and “Efficiency Is Contraindicated.”

The Ivan Franko Theater is just steps from the Presidential Office and was the site of the mass protests in July 2025, when thousands of Ukrainians rallied after parliament voted to strip the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) of their independence.

Those demonstrations became the largest anti-government protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.