Protests in Ukraine against removal of defence minister

Large protests have taken place in several Ukrainian cities against the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

More than 1,000 people gathered on a central square in Kyiv, singing the Ukrainian national anthem, waving Ukrainian and EU flags and chanting "shame" and "bring Fedorov back".

Only appointed six months ago, Mr 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.

Mr Fedorov, who had previously served as Ukraine's first digital transformation minister, has been credited with cutting bureaucracy, boosting drone warfare and pursuing a data-driven strategy to exhaust Russian forces.

But supporters say his attempts to clean up defence procurement have angered parts of the establishment.

He has also been criticised for failing to deliver quickly enough on his pledge to reform recruitment.

His removal risks throwing uncertainty into the army at a time when Ukraine in one of its best positions in the war for months, having halted the pace of the Russian advance and pounding Russian oil and military sites with long-range drones.

Mr Fedorov announced late yesterday that he was stepping down, saying it was a "great honour to serve the Ukrainian people", amid a sweeping government reshuffle ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Fedorov said he had declined ‌an ⁠offer from Mr Zelensky to become his adviser.

He ⁠told reporters ‌he had a dispute ⁠with ‌Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, accusing him ⁠of blocking the ⁠defence ministry's initiatives.

Local media reported protests over his dismissal in several other cities, including Lviv, Odesa and Dnipro.

The deputy commander of Ukraine's air force Pavlo Yelizarov also resigned in protest at Mr Fedorov's removal.

He called Mr Fedorov's dismissal "a great evil" for Ukraine's defence.

"We're in favour of an upgrade — not a downgrade," said a protester who identified himself as Ali, who described Mr Fedorovas an effective and modern manager.

"We see results, we see ⁠clear progress in our fight for freedom."

Mr Syrskyi, 60, ‌has been in post since early 2024 but has ⁠faced criticism for a rigid command style which some service members have said results in high troop losses.

Mr Zelensky has not yet publicly commented on the move to drop Mr Fedorov.

Some protesters demanded that Mr Zelensky oust Mr Syrskyi instead.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's parliament voted ⁠to appoint energy executive Sergii Koretskyi as prime minister, the third since the start ‌of ⁠Russia's invasion in 2022, replacing Yulia Svyrydenko after just a year on the job.

Mr Koretskyi, previously CEO of the state energy giant Naftogaz, was praised by ‌politicians as a capable ⁠and efficient ‌manager.

He received 289 votes in favour.

Addressing ⁠parliament ‌before the vote, Mr Koretskyi said that Ukraine's defence, ⁠economic stability and integration ⁠into the European Union were his key priorities.

Ms Svyrydenko's removal triggered the resignation of the whole government, but Mr Zelensky's Servant of the People party controls a majority.

While Mr Koretskyi was approved, parliamentary votes on other ministers are less certain to pass.

Ukraine is in its best battlefield position since late 2022, striking Russia's oil sector and military logistics in drone and missile attacks that have ‌weakened Moscow's war machine.

But Kyiv's forces still face grinding Russian advances in the east amid a critical shortage of ground troops, as well as a lack of air defences as Moscow steps up strikes with ballistic missiles.

A spokesperson for Russian ⁠President Vladimir Putin said ‌the Kremlin was monitoring the reshuffle, but that a new premier or defence minister would make no difference unless Kyiv was ready for a "responsible decision" leading to a peace settlement.

Starmer says UK support for Ukraine will 'always endure'

Keir Starmer has said the UK's "cast-iron" support of Ukraine will "always endure", as he made a final visit to the country as prime minister.

He arrived at a Kyiv train station hours after strikes were reported in the Ukrainian capital, with the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko saying that two people had died and six others, including a 16-year-old teenager, had been injured.

The first of 150 British-made, artillery barrels are being provided to Ukraine to strengthen their defence under a £61 million contract with BAE Systems.

The 105mm and 155mm gun barrels are being produced at Sheffield Forgemasters, the first time forged artillery barrels have been produced in the UK for almost two decades.

Ukraine awarded Mr Starmer its Order of Freedom honour.

"Britain has always been, and remains, with Ukraine, and we value this immensely," Mr Zelensky told Mr Starmer at a press conference in Kyiv.

His visit comes days after Ukrainian air defences intercepted five ballistic missiles launched by Russia in a raft of night attacks, the country’s air force said, though other missiles and drones got through and hit Kyiv.

The latest attack on the capital caused fires at two warehouses, while a school was also damaged.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the attack targeted military manufacturing facilities in the Ukrainian capital that produce long-range missiles and drones.

Ukraine’s air force said one ballistic missile and 25 drones struck 17 locations, while falling debris was reported in 10 locations.

UN atomic chief condemns 'unacceptable' killing at Ukraine power plant

Separately, the United Nations atomic agency's head denounced the killing of the chief engineer of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a drone strike Moscow blamed on Kyiv.

The head of Russian nuclear giant Rosatom said the engineer died when "a drone belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces" hit a service vehicle near the flashpoint power station.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi "condemns the reported incident which he says represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously threatening nuclear safety", the watchdog posted late last night on X.

"The IAEA calls for an immediate end to all attacks on or near nuclear sites and their staff," it added.

Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had urged the agency to condemn the alleged "murder".

Russian troops captured the Zaporizhzhia plant in March 2022, shortly after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The plant is the largest in Europe and its safety has been a recurring source of concern throughout the conflict.

Both sides regularly accuse the other of carrying out strikes on the site, which is located in Enerhodar, on the banks of the Dnipro river, which marks the frontline in the area.