Thousands join march for defence sector reforms in Kyiv – photos
A march calling for dialogue and reforms in the defence sector has begun in central Kyiv.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda livestream
Details: Thousands of people gathered in Taras Shevchenko Park at 19:00. The protesters honoured the fallen soldiers with a minute's silence and sang the Ukrainian national anthem.
Addressing the crowd in the park, ex-serviceman Dmytro Koziatynskyi declared that the march is "for communication, for dialogue, for reforms, so Ukraine can come out of this stronger".
The protesters then headed towards the Franko Theatre, chanting "Fedorov!", "Power belongs to the people", "We care", and "You broke it – you fix it".
Some are carrying a large banner reading "Fedorov MD" (Minister of Defence), demanding that Mykhailo Fedorov be reinstated as defence minister.
Other slogans seen on banners include "What's more important – gravy train or country?", "Lord, give our government wisdom, preferably today" and "Bring back what works".
Previously: On 28 July, Koziatynskyi, who had previously called on people to attend protests against Fedorov's dismissal, announced a protest march for dialogue and reforms in Kyiv on the evening of 31 July and invited other cities to join.
Background:
- On 16 July, protests began in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities demanding that Fedorov be reinstated as defence minister and Oleksandr Syrskyi dismissed as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- On 21 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Mykhailo Drapatyi would become the new commander-in-chief.
- Koziatynskyi called on Ukrainians to join an open-ended protest demanding Fedorov's return to the Ministry of Defence.
- Zelenskyy had previously acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground. In a new interview on 27 July, the president commented on the reasons behind the personnel decisions, once again stressing that he had to resolve problems in cooperation between the army command and the Defence Ministry and ensure unity in addressing key wartime tasks.
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