Zelensky ousts popular Defense Minister Fedorov, sparking protests across Ukrainian cities

Analysis
Fedorov's removal strips the reform faction of its most visible advocate and hands Syrskiy operational primacy over defense-ministry initiatives, narrowing space for the procurement and mobilization reforms Western partners had begun crediting, though the split may reflect institutional friction between civilian reformers and the general staff rather than a deliberate purge. Sternenko's resignation shows the drone-innovation network built around Fedorov is dispersing rather than transferring intact to a successor, and rallies across five cities show the decision carries political cost inside Zelensky's coalition beyond military circles, extending an internal command dispute into organized public opposition. Independent primary reporting from NPR, the Washington Post, and RFE/RL converges with secondary Kyiv Independent coverage on the dismissal's timeline and Fedorov's account of the rift, indicating broad, non-wire-dependent corroboration. Zelensky's decision to prioritize command cohesion with Syrskiy over preserving reform momentum reflects moderate confidence, based on Fedorov's own account and the loyalist pattern accompanying Koretskiy's confirmation.