Protesters give Zelensky until Friday as he weighs Syrskyi's dismissal; decision expected soon

Another protest over President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov while keeping Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi in office is scheduled to take place in Kyiv on July 20.

One of the protest's organizers, veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, told the Kyiv Independent the movement now has two clear demands: reinstating Fedorov as defense minister and removing Syrskyi as commander-in-chief.

A decision on Syrskyi's dismissal is expected soon, possibly within days, a person familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

Fedorov, meanwhile, was offered another role focused on military technology and on overseeing the ministry's modernization, but according to two people familiar with the matter, he is only willing to return as defense minister.

"It is important for Fedorov to continue all the projects he started," one person said.

Ukrainians have held daily protests since July 16, opposing the removal of Fedorov, one of the country's youngest and most popular senior officials.

During his tenure as defense minister, Fedorov oversaw a series of high-profile initiatives, including reforms and programs to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities.

The demonstrations have drawn thousands of participants in Kyiv, with smaller rallies taking place in other cities across Ukraine.

After the protest on Monday, organizers intend to pause the protests for three days, Koziatynskyi told the Kyiv Independent.

"We've actually set a deadline of Friday for our demands to be met," he said.

"Today's event is not a protest — it's an action focused on our demands. Then there will be a three-day pause until Friday. And if our demand is met by Friday, we'll stop."

The backlash has centered on the relationship between the two officials.

As details surrounding Fedorov's dismissal emerged, attention shifted to his deteriorating personal and professional relationship with Syrskyi.

Tensions between the two had been expected since Fedorov's appointment and reflected different approaches to military leadership and organizational culture.

Syrskyi has favored a highly centralized command structure rooted in Soviet military doctrine. He has faced criticism from soldiers and analysts for micromanagement and for fostering what critics describe as a Soviet-style command culture.

Zelensky's latest decisions have drawn criticism from lawmakers, veterans, and members of the public, many of whom have argued that removing Fedorov risks undermining reforms at the Defense Ministry while leaving concerns about military leadership.