Protests and a resignation follow Ukraine's defence minister dismissal
A look back at 16 July 2026, when street demonstrations, a senior air force resignation and a prime ministerial nomination followed a cabinet reshuffle.
What did Ukraine's political scene look like on 16 July 2026? It was a day of protest, resignation and a new nomination, all following a reshuffle driven by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Protests took place in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine against the president's decision to replace defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov with Major-General Yevhenii Khmara. Zelenskyy had dismissed Fedorov on 15 July 2026, a move that, as reported at the time, prompted demonstrations.
On 16 July 2026, Pavlo Yelizarov, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, resigned from his position in protest at Fedorov's removal.
The same day, Zelenskyy initiated the appointment of Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister. The post had become open after Yuliia Svyrydenko stepped down as prime minister on 14 July 2026, as part of the cabinet reshuffle carried out by the president.
