Soldiers Rage in Kiev Over Dissolution of Defence Minister

Word of Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal has reached front‑line units, sparking emotional reactions among soldiers who credit him as a key architect of Ukraine’s digital war strategy.

A wounded soldier, captured in a TikTok‑style video, pleaded that “my operation is scheduled for tomorrow” and added, “I hope Fedorov will return before the anaesthetic wears off.” He further warns that “everything I fought for will be in vain” if the minister is not reinstated.

Soldiers from across the country shared anecdotes of Fedorov’s reforms—“Army of Drones, data‑driven targeting schemes, and how he negotiated the blockage of Russian access to Starlink—painting a picture of rapid technological adaptation that has reversed battlefield fortunes.

“It’s a blatant slap in the face to all service members,” a veteran named Maryna said, a name created for anonymity, expressing skepticism that public protests will alter the decision.

Even amid riots outside government buildings, many officers fear the uptick in political risk and echo sentiments that General Oleksandr Syrskyi’s leadership style remains “old Soviet” and not conducive to innovation.

The move comes as Zelenskiy prepares for a potential new assault on Ukraine’s energy grid amid a looming winter, amplifying fears that cutting Fedorov’s agency will leave the army “more vulnerable.”