Amid protests: That’s why Zelenskiy is restructuring his government again

But the protests did not change the outcome: at lunchtime, parliament confirmed the proposed candidate Serhiy Koretskyj as the new prime minister with a clear majority. He was previously CEO of the state-owned energy giant Naftogaz and, according to Zelenskiy, should “prepare the country for the next harsh winter”.

Korezkyj is now the third prime minister since the start of the war. He follows Julia Swyrydenkowho resigned on Tuesday after just a year in office and is set to become the new Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. Because, according to Ukrainian law, the entire government must always be dissolved in such a case, Zelenskiy immediately used the step to make a series of personnel moves.

The protests were not about the change at the top of the government, but about the popular and successful last defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who is not allowed to continue. Why does Zelensky shoot him in the middle of the war?

“Drone Minister” at war with the General Staff

After all, the 35-year-old has a number of successes to his name. In the six months under his administration, the effectiveness of the drone forces reached a new level, with counterattacks recently regularly hitting defense factories and energy facilities deep in Russia. This made the defense minister popular across the country.

But Fedorov is considered extremely ambitious and was said to have ambitions for the office of president. Within the Defense Ministry, he took on the powerful ranks of old generals who were still trained in the Soviet Union. This culminated in a falling out with the influential commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrskyj. When he left on Thursday, Fedorov himself admitted that he had suggested Syrskyj’s dismissal to the president.

Now there was a window for Zelensky to end the power struggle – in favor of Syrsky: Corruption investigations are underway against the previous Ukrainian ambassador to the USA, and she urgently had to be replaced. Prime Minister Svyrydenko was the perfect option due to excellent US contacts, which should also enable Fedorov’s relatively quiet departure.

If only it weren’t for the people who sent a clear signal on Thursday: “Bring Fedorov back,” read some of the demonstrators’ signs in Kiev. The previous Interior Minister is considered the favorite to succeed him Ihor Klymenko. He is not said to have any great ambitions – the demonstrators’ accusation is that this is exactly what could qualify him for Zelenskiy.