Protests in Ukraine's cities against Zelensky's removal of defence minister

Protests in Ukraine's cities against Zelensky's removal of defence ministerImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Protesters gathered in central Kyiv on Thursday morningByLaura Gozzi and Sarah Rainsford, Southern and Eastern Europe correspondent, KyivPublished8 minutes agoProtests have been taking place in several Ukrainian cities against President Volodymyr Zelensky's surprise dismissal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. A crowd of people - mostly young - gathered in Kyiv, holding up signs reading "Hands off Fedorov" and "Stop sabotaging victory!" and chanting "Shame!".Zelensky has not yet explained his decision, which is causing significant upset among commentators and the military as well as parts of civil society. Fedorov, 35, was appointed only in January but has been credited with energising the ministry, heading a drive against corruption and using data to analyse and try to improve performance on the front line.MPs were due to vote later on Thursday on the proposed replacement as defence minister, Ihor Klymenko, who currently heads the interior ministry.Some in Ukraine have linked Fedorov's dismissal to tensions between him and the more conventionally minded Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, while others have highlighted his failure to move swiftly enough on overhauling mobilisation in the military."I have lots of friends in the military. Lots of them died. I don't want this to go on," Maria Lavrynets, 31, told the BBC at a protest in Ivan Franko square in central Kyiv. "We see [Fedorov's] results. We see the motivation of the soldiers, we should stand for them."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Before joining the government, Mykhailo Fedorov set up a volunteer "IT Army of Ukraine""This is the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency," Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier, told the BBC. He had signed up to the army earlier...