Kyiv, July 16: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shook up his wartime government, drawing hundreds of Ukrainians into the streets Thursday to protest the ouster of his youthful defence minister – seen as an innovator of the country’s successful drone technology but who clashed with the traditional military establishment.
The personnel overhaul, which included replacing his prime minister, could become a test of Zelenskyy’s political authority as Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches 4½ years.
Zelenskyy has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited but has periodically reshuffled his government.
The moves threw Ukraine’s military leadership into an unwelcome crisis just as its actions against Russia were starting to bear fruit and came against a backdrop of Moscow’s unrelenting aerial attacks. (AP)
