However, they expressed hope that the former popular defense minister would return to office.
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The unexpected dismissal of reformist minister Mykhailo Fedorov last week brought several thousand people to the streets, demanding his reinstatement and the removal of army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Facing the largest war-related protests since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday dismissed O. Syrskyi and appointed M. Drapata in his place.
In Izium, a city 30 kilometers from Russian positions, a 22-year-old soldier, who introduced himself by the military nickname Khrest, said that O. Syrskyi’s departure was “a good thing,” but he still wanted M. Fedorov to return to the government.
According to Khrest, M. Fedorov lobbied for the widespread introduction of fixed-term contracts – a key demand of soldiers, as many of them fight without a set term, even though the war is now in its fifth year.
“He is introducing contracts so that mobilized soldiers at least know how long they will have to serve,” the soldier told AFP.
“He also tries to ensure that soldiers get rest,” Khrest said.
Reports of violence
Another soldier in Izium, nicknamed “Ananas” (Pineapple), also told AFP he was pleased with O. Syrskyi’s departure, who was known for military achievements but also for indifference to losses.
The 30-year-old stated that O. Syrskyi, a career officer who led the decisive defense of Kyiv in 2022, “threw many people into the meat grinder at the beginning of the war.”
“I think he got off lightly by just being dismissed,” Ananas told AFP.
The soldier also claimed that O. Syrskyi was linked to a scandal involving reports of violence against recruits in the “Skelia” assault unit.
O. Syrskyi, who also oversaw Ukraine’s successful 2022 counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region, called the violations shameful and stated that measures had been taken against those responsible.
Ananas said that if M. Fedorov does not return, dissatisfaction is likely to continue.
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He praised the official, known for his efforts to improve Ukraine’s drone technologies, for striving to ensure that “fewer soldiers die, and drones fight in their place.”
“Such people should not be removed. They are doing the right things,” he said about M. Fedorov.
Respected “combat officer”
Svitlana, a 48-year-old nurse in an airborne assault unit, also viewed the arrival of M. Drapata – a respected “combat officer” – “positively.”
She was grateful to civilians for the protests aimed at removing O. Syrskyi.
“I believe that only civil society can influence these processes. While we are here defending rights, people went out and defended their own,” she said.
She also appreciated the “digitalization” carried out by former minister M. Fedorov, describing him as a “good manager,” but warned against idealizing this young official.
During his tenure, “salaries started to decrease slightly, which affects our families,” she noted.
She did not yet have an opinion on Yevhen Khmara, M. Fedorov’s successor, who came from the security services.
For 69-year-old Oleh from Kyiv, O. Syrskyi’s dismissal was not enough.
“People gathered to support M. Fedorov (…) the goal has not yet been achieved,” he said.
Oleh believes that V. Zelenskyy tried to “distract attention” by dismissing M. Fedorov and thinks that changes are only possible by changing the “top” of the government.
Taisiya Obod, a 21-year-old political science student, also hoped that M. Fedorov would remain in the government and that the momentum of his reforms and initiatives would be maintained.
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