Zelensky sacks defense minister, protests in Kyiv
President Zelensky dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sparking protests in Kyiv. UK PM Starmer pledged continued support to Ukraine.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Zelensky sacks defence minister as protests erupt in Kyiv
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed his defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, after just six months in the job, triggering rare public protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. The sacking has exposed a deep rift between the country's civilian tech innovators and its traditional military leadership.
Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister in January after serving as minister of digital transformation. He was widely credited with transforming Ukraine's drone warfare capabilities, including the development of long-range unmanned systems that have struck targets deep inside Russia. Drones, he said, now account for 95% of all Russian casualties.
But his rapid rise and push for modernisation brought him into conflict with Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov accused the military establishment of blocking his initiatives. In a statement, he said: "We've run into the fact that all the initiatives we propose have started to be blocked. And Syrskyi, given all the problems we've discussed today, is not ready to speak openly about these issues face to face."
Zelensky acknowledged the rift, saying he had tried to mediate but failed. "To be honest, the president is not supposed to pick sides in this kind of situation during wartime. I would very much like unity. The two sides did not find it," he said. He ultimately sided with the military chief, removing Fedorov.
The decision sparked immediate backlash. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Kyiv's Maidan square, chanting "Shame!" and holding signs in support of the ousted minister. Similar demonstrations were reported in other cities. The deputy head of Ukraine's air force and two key defence ministry advisors resigned in protest.
Protesters said Fedorov was the architect of Ukraine's battlefield successes. "We have an advantage right now in terms of deep strikes, in terms of unmanned systems. And I feel that the person responsible for that is Fedorov. So why is he losing his job?" one demonstrator told the BBC.
The unrest came as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv for what was expected to be his final foreign trip as leader. He was awarded Ukraine's highest honour, the Order of Freedom, and pledged continued British support. "Your fight is our fight. Your security is our security. And the United Kingdom will not waver," he said. He announced £250 million in fresh funding for Ukraine's war effort.
Zelensky admitted that changes in allied leadership cause concern. "Of course we're afraid because we are in the war each day. But again, the priority is the relation between nations," he said.
The sacking has raised questions about the future of Ukraine's drone programme. Fedorov's unit had been responsible for launching thousands of long-range drones into Russia, hitting oil refineries, ammunition dumps and military targets. The mayor of Moscow recently complained that 200 drones had been fired at the city in a single night.
Analysts described the conflict as a generational struggle between a digital-first civilian minister and a conservative military establishment. Volodymyr Havelov, a former deputy defence minister, said: "I see it as a classic example of generational conflict, this time within the military sphere. The discussion between them was about the pace and priorities of transformation of military given the lessons learned from deployment of unmanned systems."
Zelensky has not yet named a permanent replacement for Fedorov. The acting defence minister is the current head of Ukraine's internal intelligence service. The president's decision to hold off on a new candidate suggests he is trying to manage the fallout.
The protests are reminiscent of demonstrations a year ago, when Zelensky sacked anti-corruption officials and was forced to reverse his decision after public outcry. Many protesters hope to achieve the same result this time.
Meanwhile, the war continues. Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile strike on Odessa killed two people and injured eight. Ukraine also said it had hit 12 more Russian ships in the Black Sea with drones.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC NEWS | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President Zelensky sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months, leading to domestic criticism and protests. | |||||
| Russian forces launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including Kyiv, causing multiple casualties. | · | · | |||
| UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Ukraine on his last international trip, meeting President Zelensky and reaffirming UK support. | · | · | |||
| Fedorov clashed with military chief Alexander Siersky over blocked initiatives. | · | · | · | ||
| The deputy head of Ukraine's Air Force and two key defence ministry advisors resigned in protest. | · | · | · | ||
| An analyst described the sacking as a risky decision that could undermine Ukraine's position. | · | · | · | · | |
| Analysts say Fedorov made enemies by exposing billions of defence overspending. | · | · | · | · | |
| Drones account for 95% of all Russian casualties, according to Fedorov. | · | · | · | · | |
| Fedorov believed data and technology were central to modern warfare. | · | · | · | · | |
| Fedorov is credited with transforming Ukraine's military using automated weapons, including sinking Russian ships and striking St Petersburg. | · | · | · | · | |
| Fedorov oversaw long-range drone strikes into Russia. | · | · | · | · | |
| No new candidate for Ukraine's defence minister has been proposed yet. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided a balanced overview, focusing on the protests, the internal conflict between Fedorov and Syrskyi, and Zelensky's difficult choice. It also highlighted the historical context of previous protests and included Starmer's visit. The coverage was factual and included quotes from protesters and Zelensky, though it also reported unrelated stories such as a garden opening and an exoplanet discovery.
- “Shame, shame, they chant.”
- “To be honest, the president is not supposed to pick sides in this kind of situation during wartime. I would very much like unity. The two sides did not find it.”
- “A year ago, thousands of Ukrainians took to these same streets to protest after President Zelensky sacked some anti-corruption officials. They forced him to change his mind. They're hoping to do it again.”
Channel 4 focused heavily on the drone warfare angle, providing extensive on-the-ground coverage of a Ukrainian drone unit launching long-range strikes into Russia. It framed the sacking as a political crisis rooted in a clash of visions for modern warfare, with a narrative and immersive tone. It also included an interview with an opposition MP who called the sacking a mistake.
- “Long-range Ukrainian drones headed for Russia while back in Kyiv a political crisis as the man behind the strategy is sacked”
- “This isn't just a personal wrangle though. This is about two competing visions of how to fight a modern warfare”
- “I think this was a mistake by President Zelensky. I rarely criticize him But right now I think this is something that we as a country at war Cannot afford”
BBC ONE West's coverage was very similar to BBC News, but with a specific focus on the protester's voice and the resignations. It also included the unrelated MI5 story. The tone was straightforward news reporting, with a clear emphasis on the public reaction and the political implications.
- “It's a decisive time for our country and we really need to show up and Like showed to our president that we really support our Minister of Defense We have an advantage right now in terms of like deep strikes in terms of unmanned systems And I feel that the person responsible for that is father it So why why why is who he is losing his job?”
- “The deputy head of Ukraine's Air Force and two key defense ministry advisors have resigned in protest.”
- “But Kyiv's young protesters say the president has made the wrong choice.”
ITV1 focused on the diplomatic angle of Starmer's final visit and the political risk for Zelensky. It highlighted the contrast between the UK's unwavering support and the domestic turmoil. The tone was slightly more analytical, with an expert calling the sacking a 'big gamble'. It also included Zelensky's admission of fear about allied leadership changes.
- “British support will not waver once he's gone, he told President Zelensky. It is in our bones.”
- “Well, first of all, the army has to work with the ministry together. I think it's a big gamble. I think it would undermine Ukraine's position in a short-term perspective.”
- “We're shocked, says this protester. It's completely unacceptable.”
BBC News Now provided a more analytical take, featuring an interview with a former deputy defence minister who framed the conflict as a generational struggle. It also included updates on the ongoing war (Odessa strike, Black Sea drone hits). The tone was explanatory, focusing on the underlying causes and the current status of the government reshuffle.
- “I see it as a classic example of generational conflict, this time within the military sphere.”
- “The president tried to be a mediator in this situation between two leaders but without success. That's why he decided to replace the younger one, Mykhailo Fedorov, the minister of defence, and this triggered a negative reaction from civil society here in Ukraine.”
- “So it's all about the transformation of the modern warfare, which now Ukraine is in a very detailed process.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.