Cover image: Des manifestants protestent contre la décision du président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky de remplacer Mykhailo Fedorov au poste de ministre de la Défense, le 16 juillet 2026. © Reuters, Thomas Peter

Protests erupt in Ukraine as Zelensky removes 'his most popular' minister

16 Jul 2026, 08:55 · France 24

Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities on July 16 against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Only appointed six months ago, Fedorov carved a reputation as a moderniser who tried to reform the Ukrainian military, worn down by more than four years of the Russian invasion. FRANCE 24's Emmanuelle Chaze tells us more from one of the protests.