Protesters in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities call for Fedorov to be kept on as defence minister – photos, videos
A protest in support of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and a number of Ukrainian cities.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda correspondents at the scene
Details: Several hundred people have gathered at Franko Square.
The protesters are holding signs reading: "Fedorov is the defence minister", "Why?", "Don't mess with what works", "Hands off Fedorov", "Bring Fedorov back", and "Power still belongs to the people".
They are also chanting "Shame!" and "Fedorov is the defence minister".
Video: Ukrainska Pravda
Video: Anti-Corruption Action Centre
Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne has reported that similar demonstrations are also taking place in other parts of Ukraine.
People have gathered for peaceful "cardboard protests" against Fedorov's dismissal outside an office building on Hrushevsky Street in Ivano-Frankivsk, outside the city council building in Vinnytsia, on Teatralna Square in Lutsk, and in Odesa.
So far, neither Fedorov nor the President's Office has responded to the protests.
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.
- 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".
- Protests in support of Fedorov are taking place on 16 July near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of other cities across Ukraine.
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