Zelenskyy faces outrage over defence minister sacking as Starmer makes farewell Ukraine visit as UK PM – Europe live

in Kyiv

I will give you a flavor of the demonstrations this morning in Kyiv against Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his bizarre decision to fire Mykhailo Fedorov, the defence minister.

There are maybe ۱۰۰۰ people, ۱۰۰۰ plus, people already here in the summer sunshine right under Zelensky’s presidential office, and I’ve been talking to them about this decision.

They have basically been saying that they are furious, they are bewildered. They say Fedorov essentially represents openness and innovation and transparency, he has been very successful, and that it’s the kind of old forces, Soviet-style forces, who’ve got rid of him, and that that at heart this is about two things.

One is a conflict with Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief, who they allege is involved in, or his generals are involved in, various kind of corruption schemes. People now saying Syrskyi out, keep Fedorov.

And the other is just personal rivalry; that Fedorov is very popular. He’s young, ۳۵, and is regarded by some people here as a kind of future presidential leader. And that Zelensky has got rid of him for really just pretty blatant political reasons. At least that’s the critique here.

There are posters, cardboard placards saying: “for what?,” “Syrskyi out,” and so on.

It’s a young crowd here. This is only the second big demonstration since the full-scale invasion against Zelensky, right on his doorstep.

And one final thing: a lot of people have been saying that it’s embarrassing for Starmer, and that Starmer has to raise the Fedovor issue with Zelenskyy if he wants to become Nato secretary general in the future.

We’ll have to see if that’s the case.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s defence minister on eve of Starmer visit

Luke Harding

and Artem Mazhulin
in Kyiv

Fedorov’s six months in office coincided with a dramatic improvement in Ukraine’s position on the battlefield. Kyiv has repeatedly hit Russian oil refineries with long-range drones, embarrassing Vladimir Putin and creating nationwide fuel shortages.

In his farewell message Fedorov, ۳۵, listed his achievements. They included disabling Starlink for Russian troops and procuring more drones, used to destroy “enemy logistics” and to isolate occupied Crimea. He said he had “radically improved” the procurement system, saving the state budget “billions of dollars”.

On the day of his departure the minister revealed Ukraine’s military had successfully tested a ballistic missile. “We fundamentally revised ⁠the technical requirements ​and achieved maximum ​accuracy. ​We reduced ​the ‌cost ​by ​۳۰%. Ukraine will enter a new league,” he said.

The sacking appeared likely to overshadow Keir Starmer’s visit to Kyiv. The British prime minister, who is due to leave office this week, arrived on Thursday to mark the country’s support for Ukraine during his premiership.

Morning opening: Zelenskyy’s move to oust popular defence minister sparks protests as Starmer makes last visit

Jakub Krupa

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing public outrage this morning over his decision to remove Ukraine’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as he welcomes the UK’s departing prime minister Keir Starmer to Kyiv.

The Ukrainian president moves to oust Fedorov despite pleas from foreign partners and civil society for him to keep his job, as part of wide-ranging government reshuffle which also saw Yulia Svyrydenko leave the post of the prime minister.

The timing makes it a bit awkward for Starmer who is finishing his legacy tour and is keen to highlight Britain’s support for Ukraine under his premiership.

But Zelenskyy will be keen to portray it as a clear sign of continuing international support, a day after he welcomed the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen and several national leaders from south-eastern Europe.

I will also keep an eye on Emmanuel Macron’s visit to France’s historic Fontainebleau forest after days of raging fires, and his later engagement with Germany’s Friedrich Merz.

We will no doubt have plenty of updates from Kyiv and beyond to cover for you.

It’s Thursday, ۱۶ July ۲۰۲۶, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.