Ukrainian state-run UNITED24 Media suspends publications in protest over defence minister's dismissal

The editorial team of UNITED24 Media, a state-run military news outlet, has temporarily suspended publication and joined protests against the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Source: UNITED24 Media in a statement

Details: The newsroom said its journalists, editors, producers and social media team are taking part in protests following Fedorov's dismissal.

Quote: "Today, Ukrainians are gathering in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities across the country in peaceful protest.

See you there.

Slava Ukraini!"

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".
• On 16 July, protests in support of Fedorov are taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of other cities across Ukraine.

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