Protesters gather again near President's Office in Kyiv – photos
A new protest is underway near the Office of the President of Ukraine in Kyiv on the evening of 14 August. The demonstrators are demanding dialogue, a clear government action plan and a vision for reforms, as well as protesting against corruption in the defence sector and expressing support for former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda correspondent at the scene
Details: Around 500 people have gathered in Franko Square.
They are chanting: "Drones, not people", "The people are the government", "Fedorov is Ukraine's Defence Minister" and "Servant of the People, come out to the people".
As usual, the protesters are holding signs calling on the authorities to take action.
They have also organised a silent protest in memory of those who have been killed in the war and can no longer voice their demands to the country's leadership.
Various belongings have been placed in the basin of the fountain with candles and messages written on pieces of cardboard, including "I didn't get to see the world", "I didn't get to say I love you" and "I didn't get to become a mother".
Background:
- From 16 to 24 July, protests took place in Kyiv and other cities to demand Fedorov's reinstatement as defence minister and Oleksandr Syrskyi's dismissal as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground and that problems on the battlefield, within brigades and with mobilisation remained unresolved.
- On 18 July, the president said he had spoken with Fedorov and Syrskyi. He promised that "decisions regarding the army will be worked out".
- On 20 July, Syrskyi apologised to Fedorov and said he had not realised there was a conflict between them.
- After six days of protests, Zelenskyy announced that he had decided to dismiss Syrskyi as commander-in-chief and appoint Mykhailo Drapatyi to replace him.
- Veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, who had called on people to protest against then commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced an open-ended protest starting on 24 July.
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