'Changes are definitely coming' — Ukrainians take to streets for 3rd day of protests over military leadership crisis

kyivindependent.com·Abbey Fenbert·2026-07-18T17:17:37.000Z
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Humanitarian Reporting

This article documents human rights concerns or humanitarian issues using credible institutional sources. It is not considered a psychological operation.

Thousands of Ukrainians are protesting in Kyiv and other cities, demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the removal of military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, blaming him for failures in defense leadership. The protests, now in their third day, follow Fedorov’s abrupt dismissal and reflect growing public frustration with military command. President Zelensky says he’s listening and has spoken with both men, but hasn't explained his decision.

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