Protests have erupted in several Ukrainian cities after President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, in a move that has exposed rare public division within the country during wartime. Demonstrators gathered to voice support for Fedorov, whose removal came amid a broader government reshuffle that saw parliament approve Serhiy Koretsky as prime minister and Yuliia Svyrydenko step down. Fedorov, a popular figure credited with driving Ukraine's drone and technology efforts, pushed back publicly at a press conference, recalling that when the president said he did not plan to replace Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, he had said he would learn to work with him. He accused Syrskyi of failing to defeat Russia asymmetrically and of finding a way of splitting the country instead. The dismissal drew sharp criticism from soldiers and civilians alike. One Ukrainian soldier called it the worst mistake Zelensky has made during his entire presidency, while protester Maria Lavrynets, at a rally in Kyiv's Ivan Franko square, said the public should stand for Fedorov given his results and the motivation he inspired among troops. The unrest highlights the political strains facing Ukraine's leadership as the war with Russia grinds on.