Political crisis and protests in Ukraine as Zelenskyy defends sacking defence minister

• 01Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and appointed acting security service head Yevhenii Khmara as the acting defence minister.
• 02Zelenskyy stated that a choice had to be made between Fedorov and Army Commander-in-Chief Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi due to a breakdown in relations and a lack of unity between them.
• 03Fedorov accused military leadership of obstructing reforms, using Soviet-style methods, and making decisions on military support based on 'loyalty' rather than data.
• 04More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv to support Fedorov, chanting against Syrskyi and questioning the dismissal.
• 05British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv, where he was awarded the Order of Freedom by Zelenskyy, who in turn received a framed Ukrainian flag that had hung above Downing Street in February 2022.
• 06Starmer stated that Ukrainian drone strikes have shifted the war's momentum and described President Putin as 'losing'.
• 07Ukraine's parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, with energy company head Serhiy Koretskyi likely to become her replacement.
• 08Fedorov revealed he had proposed replacing Syrskyi, a suggestion he indicated led to his own dismissal, and refused an offer to remain as a government adviser.
• 09Zelenskyy confirmed that the issue was not solely with the sides involved but also with himself, stating 'things are as they are' regarding the conflict between the ministry and military leadership.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after a public breakdown in relations with Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, appointing Yevhenii Khmara as the interim defence minister. Fedoroz accused the military high command of bureaucratic obstruction and loyalty-based decision-making, sparking protests from over 1,000 supporters in Kyiv. During British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit, the two leaders exchanged honors and pledged continued UK support, while Starmer asserted that Ukrainian drone strikes have shifted the war's momentum against Russia.