Protests erupted following the resignation of Mikhail Fedorov, with demonstrators holding signs demanding changes in military leadership. Slogans included phrases like “Syryski is a relic. Fedorov is numbers. Biletsky is results,” and “Fedorov + Biletsky = a new army.” Protesters expressed dissatisfaction not only with the resignation but also with the parliamentary recess, which further fueled their grievances.
Telegraf reports that while the main demand had previously been to prevent Fedorov’s resignation, the focus shifted to calls for replacing General Oleksandr Syryski with Biletsky. Notably, MP Mariana Bezuhla was spotted at the protest, reflecting the political stakes at play.
On July 17, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with several combat commanders, including Biletsky, who currently leads the 3rd Army Corps of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Biletsky, a brigadier general, is known for his role as a founding commander of the Azov Battalion during the 2014 conflict and has been influential in shaping military strategies since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
Following the vote on July 15 that led to the resignation of the cabinet led by Yulia Svyrydenko, protests surged as news broke that Fedorov would not be included in the new government. The Parliament appointed a new Prime Minister, Serhiy Koretsky, on July 16, but key ministerial posts, including defense, remained unfilled. Speculation surrounds Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as a potential candidate for the defense minister role, alongside ongoing discussions about the leadership dynamics between Fedorov and Syryski.
Context
- On July 15, the Verkhovna Rada approved the resignation of the government led by Yulia Svyrydenko, which prompted protests against Fedorov’s exclusion from the new cabinet.
- On July 16, Parliament appointed Serhiy Koretsky as the new Prime Minister. The defense and foreign ministers’ positions remain vacant amid ongoing discussions.
- On July 17, the government appointed General Major Yevhenii Khmara as acting head of the SBU and interim defense minister, following a directive from Zelensky.
- Media speculate that Fedorov’s replacement may be linked to a conflict with Chief Commander Oleksandr Syryski, as President Zelensky emphasized the need for a resolution between the two leaders.
