Protests sweep Ukraine after Zelensky sacks 'modernising' defence minister Fedorov

Day 1,602.

Following President Zelensky’s seismic sacking of 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – a popular, dynamic moderniser in the government – we bring you the reaction on the streets of Kyiv, where protests have broken out. Reports suggest it was irreconcilable differences with commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi that ultimately got Fedorov dismissed – but also that his personal political ambitions had Zelensky worried. Is this the president’s biggest political miscalculation since his move against the country’s anti-corruption bodies in 2025? Then, we have the latest Ukrainian strikes on Russian ships in the Black Sea. Finally Adelie learns about the remarkably brave women who have become the backbone of the resistance movement in the occupied territories.

Contributors:

Roland Oliphant (Chief Foreign Analyst). @RolandOliphant on X.

Alex Nichol (Telegraph Journalist).

Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.

Producer: Phil Atkins

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan

Social Producer: Tom Steed

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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CONTENT REFERENCED:

Protests erupt after Zelensky fires popular defence minister (The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/16/protests-erupt-zelensky-fires-defence-minister-fedorov/

Zelensky rejected push to fire Syrskyi as commander-in-chief, Fedorov reveals (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/fedorov-admits-trying-to-replace-syrskyi-before-his-dismissal-as-defense-minister/

Russia's Engels air base reportedly struck in Ukrainian drone attack (Kyiv Independent):

https://kyivindependent.com/russias-engels-air-base-reportedly-struck-in-ukrainian-drone-attack/

The Warrior-Witches of Ukraine’s Resistance (Ken Harbaugh in The Atlantic):

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/06/underground-intelligence-network-russia-ukraine/687578/

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Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Protests sweep Ukraine
• Zelensky sacks 'modernising' defence minister Fedorov

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