Ukraine fights under an interim defense chief after Zelenskyy's contested government shake-up

By — Illia Novikov, Associated Press Illia Novikov, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ukraine-fights-under-an-interim-defense-chief-after-zelenskyys-contested-government-shake-up Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ukraine fights under an interim defense chief after Zelenskyy's contested government shake-up World Jul 17, 2026 11:47 AM EDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine fought Russia's more than 4-year-old invasion under an interim defense minister Friday, a day after a government reshuffle exposed a deep split between the military's old guard and young innovators over how to fight the war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's major shake-up of his government on Thursday, which included the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and the appointment of a new prime minister, unsettled the country's military leadership and triggered a public outcry. It tested Zelenskyy's authority and was an unwelcome difficulty after Ukraine in recent months gained traction in the war. WATCH: News Wrap: Ukrainians protest Zelenskyy's firing of defense minister Zelenskyy said he had asked Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara, acting head of the state's security service and a highly regarded special operations expert, to take over the defense minister's duties. Zelenskyy said late Thursday he would ask Parliament to formally approve Khmara's appointment as defense minister, as required by law. READ MORE: Ukraine's prime minister steps down as Zelenskyy announces government reshuffle That step could be delayed by bureaucratic hurdles, however. Ukrainian law requires the defense minister to be a civilian, so a serving soldier or security service officer must leave active duty before being formally appointed. Also, lawmakers will be on summer recess through mid-August. It was not clear whether Khmara would have enough votes in Parliament to be confirmed in the job. Relations between 35-year-old Fedorov and Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the 60-year-old commander of Ukraine's armed forces who started his military career in the former Soviet Union, had broken down, according to Zelenskyy, and made Fedorov's position untenable. READ MORE: Ukraine fears it will have a weaker link to Trump after Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death Fedorov, who is credited with pushing forward Ukraine's innovative drone technology that has brought advantages on the battlefield and fighting corruption in the military, defended his record after just six months in government. "We transformed Ukraine into a global tech leader and a defense powerhouse," he said Friday on social media. A second day of Kyiv protests demand Fedorov's return The surprise departure of Fedorov, a youthful, digital-savvy modernizer, drew thousands of people to demonstrate against his dismissal in cities across Ukraine on Thursday. Further street protests took place in Kyiv on Friday, where one sign read, "Don't ruin something that works."