Ukraine’s Zelensky meets commanders as street protests mount

President Volodymyr Zelensky met some of Ukraine’s top military commanders on Monday to try to ease growing discontent with the defence leadership that has triggered the largest street protests since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Thousands of people in Kyiv and other cities took to the streets for several days in a row, defying martial law, to protest against last week’s removal of young reformer Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and to demand the dismissal of commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The protests, led by young people, also exposed deep divisions in the defence leadership on how to stop Russia’s battlefield advances, as the war’s overall momentum has swung in Kyiv’s favour.

Syrskyi, 60, faces criticism from civil society, soldiers and legislators for his Soviet-style command culture and high-casualty tactics.

Contenders for the top army job

Zelensky met five generals and one colonel, viewed by political analysts as potential replacements for Syrskyi, one after another to discuss the battlefield situation as fighting rages along more than 1,200km of the frontline.

The six most well-known and respected military commanders, including commander of the joint forces Mykhailo Drapatyi and deputy chief of the general staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, represent a younger generation of Ukrainian officers whose careers were shaped in combat against Russian troops.

Oleh Apostol, commander of the air assault forces, and the commanders of the three army corps — Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi and Denys Prokopenko — also met Zelensky, who posted pictures from his study after each meeting.

Zelensky’s chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, called for unity and restraint in the wake of the protests, promising a constructive response.

“The public’s views have been heard,” he said. “Work is under way. Results will follow.”

A poll from the Gradus research company showed that 61% of Ukrainians were against the dismissal of Fedorov.

Zelensky said he spoke to Fedorov, 35, “at length” over the weekend.

A source close to Fedorov told Reuters he had discussed “other roles” with Zelensky, but he was only ready to return as defence minister. Ukrainian media reported that Fedorov had been offered roles overseeing military technology and innovation.

Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of the organisers of the protests, called on supporters to launch a “general, indefinite protest” unless Syrskyi is removed and Fedorov reappointed as defence minister by July 24.

Reuters