Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources among military and law enforcement personnel

Details: The meeting came amid the dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the public conflict between him and the commander-in-chief.

Ukrainska Pravda has contacted Andrii Yermak for comment and sent an official request to Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Background: On 16 July, former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Zelenskyy had not agreed to replace Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. He said that all Defence Ministry proposals and initiatives on improving the military's performance had met with resistance.

• In response to criticism from Fedorov, Syrskyi said he hoped he would remain on Ukraine's team.
• Commenting on the upcoming changes at the Defence Ministry, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi were unable to work together effectively and that problems on the battlefield, in military brigades and with mobilisation remain unresolved.
• Zelenskyy has announced that he will propose that parliament appoint Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, has been tasked by the president with acting as Ukraine's defence minister in the interim.
• Protests in support of Fedorov are taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of other cities across Ukraine. The protesters are calling on the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in his post in the new government and not to hand the defence minister post over to Ihor Klymenko.
• Earlier, Yermak was formally served with a notice of suspicion in a case concerning the alleged laundering of UAH 460 million (around US$10.5 million) during the construction of the high-end Dynastiia ("Dynasty") housing complex in Kozyn, near Kyiv. According to investigators, some of the funds used for the construction may have originated from corruption schemes at Energoatom. Bail of UAH 140 million (around US$3.1 million) was posted on his behalf.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine, citing the National Police

Details: As reported, National Police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi was appointed Interior Minister on 16 July.

The National Police website says Tsutskiridze served as deputy head of the Main Investigative Department of the National Police from December 2017 to September 2019.

From September 2019 to September 2023, he was Deputy Head of the National Police, subsequently becoming First Deputy Head.

Background: On 16 July, the Ukrainian parliament approved the appointment of Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister. Koretskyi previously served as CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine, the country's largest oil and gas company, and Ukrnafta, Ukraine's largest oil producer. Parliament has also appointed a new Cabinet of Ministers.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: State Emergency Service; Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote from the State Emergency Service: "In the settlement of Vysokyi, one person was killed and five others were injured as a result of a strike on a civilian business facility. In the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv, a 40-year-old man was injured after a drone struck a residential area."

Details: Syniehubov subsequently reported that a 50-year-old man was injured in the Kholodnohirskyi district.

A civilian car was also damaged in the drone strike.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration; State Emergency Service (SES)

Quote from SES: "During the afternoon of 16 July, Russian forces carried out air strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia. Early reports indicate that three people were killed and two others were injured, including one child.

All necessary assistance is being provided. The number of casualties is being updated. SES psychologists provided assistance to 16 civilians, including four children."

Details: Rescue workers say the strikes damaged a two-storey house at one location. Neighbouring buildings were damaged by the blast wave. Fires broke out in open areas at other locations.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: Bloomberg

Details: According to six wealthy Russians and several others familiar with the views of Russian billionaires, high-profile cases of asset confiscation have heightened fears among Russia's elite that the state may seize their wealth or that they may otherwise lose it.

Some of these individuals and documents reviewed by Bloomberg – including corporate reports and property purchase records – say that several billionaires have recently moved additional assets out of Russia amid concerns about the banking sector.

Over the past year, the investment portfolios of some of Russia's wealthiest individuals have shifted towards cryptocurrency, gold, overseas real estate and private investment funds, particularly in Gulf countries.

Since 2024, Russian authorities have stepped up high-profile asset confiscations targeting a range of magnates, including those who sought to maintain ties with the outside world through dual citizenship or those who previously held official positions.

Russia's economic slowdown since 2025 has further reduced their profits and limited opportunities to preserve and grow their wealth within the country.

By conservative estimates from two individuals familiar with the investment decisions of several Russian billionaires, the sum of funds that have left Russia beyond official figures since the start of this year amounts to tens of billions of dollars.

According to them, this is more than last year.

Background: Russia faces an "explosive" banking crisis as financial institutions bear a significant share of the burden of the country's wartime economy, according to an EU intelligence report.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!

Source: Ukrainska Pravda's sources in Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team

Details: Earlier today President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would propose to parliament the appointment of Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. Khmara, who is currently holding the role of SSU acting head, will carry out the duties of Ukraine's defence minister on the president's instruction.

Background:

• On 16 July, ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the president had not agreed to replace Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. He said that all proposals and initiatives from the Ministry of Defence on improving the military's performance met with resistance.
• Zelenskyy, commenting on the upcoming changes at the Ministry of Defence, acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground, and that problems on the battlefield, in brigades and with mobilisation had remained unresolved.
• Protests in support of Fedorov are taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and a number of other cities across Ukraine. Participants called on the authorities to return Fedorov to his post in the new government and not to give the seat of defence minister to Ihor Klymenko.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "I have tasked Yevhen Khmara with serving as acting minister, continuing to reform the defence sector, and ensuring that Ukraine achieves all of the results we have discussed. Once the necessary legal procedures have been completed, I will request that MPs support Yevhen Khmara's nomination for the position of Minister of Defence of Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy said he had met with the SSU head and spoke of the existence of "a strategic vision for Ukraine's ongoing active efforts to defend our independence and force Russia into diplomacy".

He said Khmara had gained extensive experience conducting technological strike operations: "This is exactly where our defense efforts should be focused during this war".

"Under the current circumstances, I believe that real effectiveness in long-range operations, a genuinely strong background in security work that will ensure control over the internal situation across the components of the defence forces, and real experience in managing personnel at the SSU's Center of Special Operations Alpha should all be advantageous in the position of Ukraine's Minister of Defence," Zelenskyy stated.

The president made no mention of Ihor Klymenko or Mykhailo Fedorov in the post.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!

Source: German news agency dpa, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Rutte said he does not expect the appointment of a new defence minister to bring about any significant changes in Kyiv's strategy in the war against Russia.

"I had a good working relationship with Mykhailo Fedorov. I wish him well, and his successor no doubt will continue that path," the NATO secretary general said.

Rutte added that he expects "continuity" at a time when the Ukrainian military is "doing much better" on the front line than it was at the beginning of the year. He pointed out Russian forces are advancing only very slowly, while Ukraine has managed to carry out counterattacks in several areas.

Russia is losing between 25,000 and 35,000 troops every month, he noted.

"If you are a young Russian man contemplating to join the war effort, you might be one of those approximately 30,000 this month or next month," Rutte said, describing those losses as "terrible news for the families involved, for the people involved".

He added that Ukraine is "striking deep into Russia", targeting its energy infrastructure and industrial base.

Background:

• Earlier, European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová praised Fedorov's work as defence minister and thanked him for working with them.
• In an interview with European Pravda, Kubilius said Fedorov's dismissal will raise questions within the EU as to why such an effective defence minister is being replaced.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: European Pravda, citing EU diplomats

Details: "The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) has agreed to launch the written adoption procedure, so this package of sanctions against Russia will be formally adopted tomorrow," an EU diplomat said.

The package to be adopted on 17 July will target legal entities and individuals involved in the production of Shahed and Geran attack drones on Russian territory.

Background:

• Proposals for new restrictions against Russia were put forward by the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, following another large-scale Russian strike on Kyiv on the night of 1-2 July.
• Kallas said she would propose imposing sanctions on a wider circle of companies supporting Russia's defence industry in response to these strikes.
• The additional sanctions against Russia in response to its large-scale attacks on Ukraine were initially planned to be approved at the EU foreign ministers' meeting on 13 July, but this did not occur.
• According to media reports, the new sanctions are planned to target a total of five legal entities and one individual involved in the development and production of components that enhance the combat capabilities of Russian Shahed and Geran drones.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko

Details: Pivnenko said that after identifying the target, the troops carefully planned the operation and struck the aircraft as it was preparing for a combat sortie to launch strikes against Ukraine.

Quote: "The first UAV struck the nose section of the Su-24M. The second hit near the fuel tanks, ultimately destroying the aircraft."

Details: Pivnenko said National Guard units are systematically expanding their capability to conduct long-range drone strikes deep behind Russian lines.

He added that units of the National Guard's 1st Azov Corps and 2nd Khartiia Corps are also carrying out combat missions at distances exceeding 100 km.

The commander said such strikes primarily target Russian logistics routes, ammunition depots, command posts, air defence systems, clusters of personnel and aircraft.

He stressed that these operations weaken Russia's combat capabilities and force the Russians to divert additional resources to protect facilities in the rear.

Background:

• On 15 July, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter in Russia's Belgorod Oblast.
• On 8 July, Ukraine's defence forces also shot down a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter.

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: live broadcast from the Verkhovna Rada session

Details: MPs approved the ministerial appointments by 264 votes.

Koretskyi presented their candidacies beforehand.

• Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy
• Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture
• Vsevolod Chentsov, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration
• Vitalii Bezhin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons
• Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports
• Andrii Butenko, Minister of Education and Science
• Ivan Vyhivskyi, Interior Minister
• Taras Vysotskyi, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food
• Mykola Kalashnyk, Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport
• Vitalii Kim, Minister for Veterans Affairs
• Oleksandr Kravchenko, Minister of Economy and Environment
• Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health
• Serhii Marchenko, Minister of Finance
• Denys Maslov, Minister of Justice
• Denys Uliutin, Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity
• Oksana Ferchuk, Minister of Digital Transformation

MPs will consider the foreign and defence minister posts separately after the president submits the relevant nominations.

Background:

• On 16 July, the Verkhovna Rada approved the appointment of Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister. Koretskyi previously served as CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine, the country's largest oil and gas company, and Ukrnafta, Ukraine's largest oil producer.
• The dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked protests near the President's Office in Kyiv.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on Telegram

Quote: "Investigators from law enforcement agencies, together with representatives of forensic institutions, will carry out all the necessary procedures to identify the repatriated bodies."

Details: The Coordination Headquarters said the return of the bodies was made possible through the joint efforts of the headquarters' staff, the Joint Centre at the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, the State Emergency Service, and other security and defence sector agencies.

Investigators from law enforcement agencies, working with expert institutions at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will now conduct the necessary examinations and identification procedures for the repatriated bodies.

The headquarters also thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance in carrying out the repatriation.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 16 July

Quote: "Our main objective was to reduce the amount of money they [the Russians – ed.] spend specifically on defence, meaning on the war itself. And we are seeing that happen: when their exports were running smoothly, salaries, contracts and related payments kept rising, but at some point that growth stabilised.

We already know that funding for personnel is beginning to fall in some parts of Russia's war machine, so to speak...

As a result of Ukraine's disruption of Russian logistics, diesel and petrol supply indicators inside Russia have shifted further in Ukraine's favour. Why? Because the number of people in Russia who want this war to end has started to grow. There are no illusions here.

I do not believe there has been any rise in the number of people who have started treating us with respect or who genuinely want us to have a good life. I simply do not believe that.

What we do clearly see, however, is that the number of people who genuinely want this war to end has grown several times over. For now, that is the only indicator we have."

Details: Zelenskyy said Russia will either step up mobilisation or move towards dialogue after the State Duma elections in autumn 2026.

Background:

• Ukrainian forces are striking Russian oil refineries and dozens of tankers on an almost daily basis.
• Drones are reaching Russian facilities thousands of kilometres from Ukraine's border.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 16 July

Quote: "As for the people who came out [to protest – ed.] – we are fighting for freedom and democracy, so I think we are doing everything right. And people are doing what they want to do. They wanted to come out, and that's the right thing to do. And if, even during the war, with all its difficulties and restrictions, people can express their will, then I consider that the most important thing."

Details: Zelenskyy added that he does not just hear the people, but often responds to their questions, even though at times he would rather not, so as not to inform Russia as well.

Quote: "So I understand, I hear and I even respond. I mean, I respond to some things I wouldn't want to get into in that much detail. Not because there are secrets from our society – there are secrets from the Russians."

More details: Commenting on the possible appointment of acting Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko to the post of defence minister, the president said he is considering him as "one of the candidates" and that he has "not yet submitted the relevant documents to the parliament".

Zelenskyy also said he believes Klymenko has very strong qualities and is capable of overcoming "shameful busification practices" during mobilisation. [Busification is the controversial practice of forced mobilisation in which recruitment officers detain men in public, often bundling them onto minibuses to transport them to enlistment offices – ed.]

Quote: "But again, this is a question I am still considering... Well, that's it. That's where I'm trying to put the ellipsis in my answer, because I haven't put the full stop yet."

Read more: Lies, isolation, blocking: Fedorov names 11 major problems he found in Defence Ministry

Previously: Earlier on 16 July, reports emerged of a protest in support of acting Defence Minister Minister Mykhailo Fedorov taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and a number of Ukrainian cities. Participants are asking the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government and not to hand the defence minister's post to Ihor Klymenko.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the planned changes at the Defence Ministry, has acknowledged that Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi have been unable to work together effectively and that problems on the battlefield, in military brigades and with mobilisation remain unresolved.

Background:

• On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entails the resignation of the entire government.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources said the authorities planned to form the new government on 15 July. The Verkhovna Rada was expected to vote on the new Cabinet of Ministers on 16 July.
• According to Ukrainska Pravda sources within the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not put Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister. Instead, he is expected to nominate Ihor Klymenko, who is currently serving as acting Interior Minister.
• Sources in the faction also say Fedorov remains on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".
• On 15 July, Fedorov summarised his tenure as defence minister, outlining what he had not managed to accomplish and stressing that he would continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

Your support on Patreon helps us keep the news free and accessible.

Source: Syrskyi on social media

Quote from Syrskyi: "I am proud that thanks to the Kyiv defence operation in 2022, we were able to defend our capital. Today, that same city can host briefings, shape visions and make decisions."

Details: The commander-in-chief promised to make every effort to ensure such work can continue in a free and independent Ukraine.

Quote from Syrskyi: "To achieve this, we must remain focused on the war and on an effective strategy that is already producing tangible results.

I would like to thank Mykhailo Fedorov for his work as Ukraine's defence minister. I wish him continued success as part of Ukraine's team. Onward together to victory!"

More details: Fedorov had earlier criticised Syrskyi, saying that all the initiatives proposed by the Defence Ministry had started being blocked.

Quote from Fedorov: "Syrskyi is not willing to discuss problems face to face. He is willing to attend meetings in person, to engage in intrigues and to assume that someone ordered a media campaign against him, rather than acknowledge that the problem lies in what is actually happening. This ultimately led to a situation in which, in effect, he issued an ultimatum."

More details: According to Fedorov, "instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, he figured out how to split the country".

Fedorov also said he identified 11 major problems in the management of the defence forces and the system of power when he joined Ukraine's Defence Ministry six months ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the planned changes at the Defence Ministry, has acknowledged that Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi have been unable to work together effectively and that problems on the battlefield, in military brigades and with mobilisation remain unresolved.

Previously: Protests in support of acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov are taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of Ukrainian cities. The protesters are calling on the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government and not to hand the defence minister post over to Ihor Klymenko.

Background:

• On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entails the resignation of the entire government.
• According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, the authorities planned to form the new government on 15 July. The parliament is expected to vote on the new Cabinet on 16 July.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources in the Servant of the People faction said Zelenskyy would not be putting Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister as part of the government reshuffle and that current acting Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko could become the new defence minister.
• Sources in the faction also said Fedorov remains on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".
• On 15 July, Fedorov summed up his tenure, outlined what he had not managed to accomplish and said he will continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko; Security Service of Ukraine (SSU); a law enforcement source familiar with the matter speaking to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from Kravchenko: "Seven people killed. Twenty-nine injured. Over 600 evacuated. Thirteen hectares of residential development in ruins.

These are not only the consequences of yet another Russian missile strike. The investigation has found that the scale of the tragedy was increased by the official negligence of specific individuals in the rear."

Details: The prosecutor general recalled that, on the night of 5-6 July, Russian forces launched a missile strike on Kyiv Oblast. A 9M723 ballistic missile from an Iskander missile system struck a warehouse belonging to the company in Vyshneve. The impact triggered a massive secondary detonation of ammunition that continued for hours.

The investigation found that a large quantity of ammunition had been stored in facilities that categorically failed to meet safety requirements and lacked the necessary permits. The warehouse was not intended for storing ammunition, especially not on a long-term basis.

Kravchenko said the placement of such facilities near residential areas is explicitly prohibited by Ukrainian law, government regulations and decisions of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Those requirements were ignored. The nearest buildings were about 24 metres from the company's perimeter fence, while one house stood less than 18 metres away.

Kravchenko reported that the Russian missile was the initial cause, but the scale of the subsequent detonation and its consequences was determined by the disregard for basic ammunition storage rules and public safety.

The officials responsible for those decisions could not have been unaware of the risks.

On 16 July, the chief executive of the defence company and his deputy were detained under Article 615 of Ukraine's Criminal Procedure Code. They were notified that they are suspected of official negligence resulting in grave consequences and loss of life (Article 367.2 and Article 367.3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Prosecutors also filed motions seeking pre-trial detention without the possibility of bail. Both officials were dismissed from their posts.

Ukrainska Pravda has learned that the detainees are Mykola Andriiash, Chief Executive of a company within the Ukroboronprom (Ukrainian Defense Industry) structure, and his deputy, Ruslan Kuchynskyi.

Background:

• On the night of 5-6 July, Russia launched a large-scale combined strike on Ukraine using attack drones as well as air-, land- and sea-launched missiles of various types. Ukrainian air defences downed 363 out of 419 aerial assets, but 29 ballistic missiles and 18 attack drones struck 34 locations.
• In Kyiv Oblast, nine people were killed and 58 injured as a result of Russia's attack. Nearly 500 residents were evacuated from Vyshneve because of the risk of a secondary explosion.
• Ukraine's General Staff stated that the facility in Vyshneve where secondary explosions occurred on 6 July does not fall under the management of or report to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that a criminal case has been opened following the explosion at an ammunition depot belonging to an Ukroboronprom company in Vyshneve, and dismissals will follow.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking to journalists

Details: Asked why he wants to replace Mykhailo Fedorov with Ihor Klymenko, Zelenskyy responded: "It depends on our priorities and the difficult situation. There is a difficult dialogue between the military leadership and the Defence Ministry. It is difficult on different levels, by the way. It is not just about individuals."

The president said a number of issues remain unresolved.

Quote: "And when we talk about the battlefield, military operations, situations in the brigades, military enlistment offices, forced mobilisation practices – all of these issues exist. We have to acknowledge what we are doing right and what is wrong and disgraceful. These problems need to be solved. I am not saying which of the two sides should solve them. I believe they should do it together.

Because it cannot be that one side alone gets the credit while the other alone bears the responsibility. No. We win together, and together we are responsible for matters that give rise to misunderstanding and public outcry."

Details: Zelenskyy added that, during wartime, the president should not have to choose between two sides.

"I wanted unity very much. The sides did not find it. And that is not only their problem, but mine as well. I do not absolve myself of responsibility. And I respect the sides, I know their strengths, I know their weaknesses, and I very much want them to strengthen Ukraine. But it is what it is. And in such a situation, the way out is either one side or the other, because without me they do not sit down together [to talk – ed.]," he said.

Zelenskyy stressed that the Defence Ministry and the military leadership "must work together independently – every day, on a permanent basis" and "must resolve certain issues at their own level".

"So I will certainly demonstrate consistency in my actions. I am simply showing that if the sides cannot resolve these issues themselves, then I will have to do it," the president concluded.

Previously: Protests in support of Fedorov are taking place on 16 July near the President's Office in Kyiv and in several other cities across Ukraine. Participants call on the authorities to keep Fedorov in the post in the new government rather than appoint Ihor Klymenko as defence minister.

Background:

• On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entails the resignation of the entire government.
• According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, the authorities planned to form the new government on 15 July. The parliament is expected to vote on the new Cabinet on 16 July.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources in the Servant of the People faction said Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not be putting Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister as part of the government reshuffle. Ihor Klymenko, currently acting Minister of Internal Affairs, could become the new defence minister.
• Sources in the faction also say Fedorov remains on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".
• Fedorov summed up his tenure, outlined what he had not managed to accomplish and said he will continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 16 July

Quote: "As for Klymenko, he is being considered as one of the candidates. Yes, he is being considered, but I haven't yet submitted the relevant documents to parliament."

Details: Zelenskyy noted that Klymenko, like Fedorov, has some very strong qualities. He also said the Armed Forces must work together with the Defence Ministry.

Zelenskyy said that the issues with military enlistment offices are not only a matter for the military.

Quote: "Everyone needs to address them – both the armed forces and the ministry. And that's why I believe that eliminating the shameful practices of busification could be one of Klymenko's strengths. But again, this is a question I am still considering."

Previously: On 16 July, protests in support of acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov are taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of Ukrainian cities. The protesters are asking the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government and not to hand the post of defence minister over to Ihor Klymenko.

Background:

• On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entails the resignation of the entire government.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources said the authorities planned to form the new government on 15 July. The Verkhovna Rada was expected to vote on the new Cabinet of Ministers on 16 July.
• Ukrainska Pravda sources within the Servant of the People parliamentary faction said Zelenskyy would not put Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister. He is expected to nominate acting Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
• Sources in the faction also say Fedorov is still on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".
• On 15 July, Fedorov summed up his tenure as defence minister, outlining what he had not managed to accomplish and stressing that he would continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!