Mykhailo Fedorov, fired as Ukraine's defense minister last week, struck back Thursday against the military's old guard, accusing senior commanders of obstructing efforts to modernize the armed forces with drone technology and digital systems.
Thousands of protesters filled central Kyiv to demand Fedorov's reinstatement, one of the largest domestic demonstrations since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Fedorov, who previously served as minister of digital transformation and became the architect of Ukraine's drone warfare program, said in public remarks that resistance from within the military establishment had hampered battlefield innovation at a critical moment in the war.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's office confirmed the dismissal last week but has not publicly named a replacement or given a full explanation for the decision.
Critics of the move argued Ukraine cannot afford leadership instability in its defense ministry as fighting continues along a grinding eastern front.
Supporters of the ouster, including some senior officers, contended that Fedorov's civilian-driven approach clashed with operational command structures.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada is expected to take up the question of a new defense minister appointment within days, according to legislative sources cited by Kyiv-based outlets.