Hundreds of people took to the streets in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to protest President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss the country's Defence Minister.
The demonstrators gathered in central Kyiv, expressing concern that replacing the defence minister while Ukraine remains at war with Russia could undermine military operations and national security. Protesters also called on the government to provide a clear explanation for the dismissal.
President Zelenskyy defended the move, saying the leadership change is part of a broader effort to reform the government, strengthen the Ministry of Defence, improve military management, and enhance the country's defence capabilities.
The Ukrainian government stressed that the change in leadership would not affect the armed forces' ongoing operations or Ukraine's military cooperation with its Western allies.
The decision has sparked debate across the country. While some Ukrainians support the president's efforts to reform key institutions during the war, others argue that such a significant leadership change could create uncertainty at a critical moment in the conflict.