Protesters rally in Kyiv as Zelenskyy moves to oust Ukraine's defense minister

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Protesters gathered in downtown Kyiv on Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved to dismiss his defense minister, as parliament convened to appoint a new prime minister as part of a major government reshuffle.

The shake-up could become a test of Zelenskyy’s political authority as Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches 4½ years.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, is considered to be a modernizer whose technological expertise is credited in part with a significant improvement in Ukraine’s military performance in recent months against Russia’s bigger army. He was expected to leave the government after just six months in the post.

Zelenskyy didn't publicly give a reason for Fedorov’s anticipated exit. Unconfirmed Ukrainian media reports said that Fedorov had a strained relationship with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Syrskyi, 60, is credited with initially organizing the defense of Kyiv in February 2022, and seven months later masterminded a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region. He was born in 1965 in the Soviet Union and attended Moscow Higher Military Command School before serving in the Soviet Artillery Corps.

The mostly young protesters shouted Fedorov’s name and made crude remarks about Skryskyi. They chanted, “Syrskyy go away!” and “A European army for a European country!”

Bohdan Huryak, a Kyiv resident at the protest, said that he was “deeply outraged” by Fedorov’s exit.

“I’m not deeply invested in the internal political debates, but this is a person who shows results on the battlefield, we see results, we feel the fighting spirit and confidence in victory rising,” Huryak told The Associated Press. “And then, six months later, he is removed from office? Come on.”

Demonstrations were also held in other cities across Ukraine, including Dnipro in the center of the country and the southern port city of Odesa.

Zelenskyy swiftly reversed course in July last year when large street protests broke out over a new law that would have curbed the independence of the country’s anti-corruption watchdogs. The outcry threatened the stability of his leadership for the first time since Russia’s all-out invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.

Before he became defense minister last January, Fedorov was the head of Ukraine’s digital transformation policies and seen as a modernizer. He won public popularity by spearheading Ukraine's speedy development and deployment of drone technology and introducing several successful e-government platforms.

He also promised sweeping military reforms, saying after he took over that the military had faced about 200,000 troop desertions and draft-dodging by around 2 million people.

Fedorov highlighted in his social media posts what he said were major achievements during his brief tenure. He said that he took the risk of redirecting funds originally earmarked for salary payments into midrange strike capabilities, fiber-optic drones, reconnaissance systems and other technologies.

He also pointed to expanded drone procurement, Patriot missile defense contracts, successful ballistic missile tests and sweeping changes to military procurement.

At the same time, he acknowledged that he was unable to complete the Defense Ministry’s organizational transformation “according to NATO standards and common sense,” move all procurement to competitive tenders, and build a culture of accountability.

He said that while many officials had been dismissed under his authority, “it was necessary to dismiss even more people who were hindering the changes.”

Zelenskyy didn't formally announce Fedorov’s departure. However, Fedorov confirmed his dismissal and listed his achievements in office in social media posts late Wednesday, after days of unconfirmed Ukrainian media reports that he was on his way out.

Zelenskyy also nominated Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi to take over as prime minister, parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said in a social media post late Wednesday.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Koretskyi was the most appropriate candidate for the government’s priority of preparing Ukraine for another difficult winter. He cited the Naftogaz chief’s experience in the energy sector.

Lawmakers in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, were debating the Cabinet changes before the summer recess begins on Saturday.

Dan Bashakov and Dmytro Zhyhinas contributed to this report.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukrainians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 16, 2026. Placard reads: Fedorov is a minister of innovation. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

Ukranians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 16, 2026. Placard reads: Bring back Fedorov. Do not destroy defense capability. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

Ukranians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 16, 2026. Placards read: "Power is the people", center left, and "Bring back Fedorov", center. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

Ukrainians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after six months in the post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has been suspended for two matches under new World Rugby guidelines confronting abuse of match officials.

Quesada was automatically sanctioned for “comments made in broadcast and subsequently reported” after Italy lost to New Zealand 47-17 last Saturday in the Nations Championship in Wellington, World Rugby said on Thursday.

Italy played the last 30 minutes down a man after lock Niccolò Cannone was initially sin-binned by referee Luc Ramos for head-butting and it was upgraded to a permanent red card. Cannone has since been suspended for four matches.

Quesada is banned from all match-day activity and can't be in the stadium. He will miss Italy's next two Nations matches against Australia in Perth on Saturday and South Africa in Turin on Nov. 7. He can appeal.

Among his post-match comments on Saturday: “I think the refereeing team was partly to blame for the score. They made a lot of mistakes today. That said, I think the All Blacks absolutely deserved the win; they played an extraordinary game."

“I think the decision against Niccolò was harsh. It obviously forced the team to play with 10 men for a very long time. Every minute against the All Blacks lasts more than 60 seconds; playing with 10 men against them is really tough.”

World Rugby said it started a new match official abuse sanction process across all international rugby this month, after it was agreed at the last annual Shape of the Game forum in February in London.

The process “is targeted at reducing comments which often are the basis of the unacceptable increase in abuse and threats towards match officials.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada watches his players warm up ahead of the Nations Championship rugby international between the All Blacks and Italy in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Marty Melville/Photosport via AP)