Zelensky faces deepening political crisis as protests dig in

AI Summary

Ukrainian President Zelensky faces escalating political unrest as protesters demand reinstatement of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and removal of General Oleksandr Syrsky. The military chief of staff, credited with defending Kyiv, faces criticism for brutality and alleged corruption tolerance.

In Ukraine, protesters say they’re giving Volodymyr Zelensky until Friday to re-instate the popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and fire General Oleksandr Syrsky, the military chief of staff. The President removed Fedorov from his post last week, citing a clash between the two men. The protests have brought Syrsky’s unpopularity to the forefront. Through credited with stopping the Russian invaders at the gates of Kyiv in 2022, he’s since gained a reputation for brutality, and for wasting lives unnecessarily. He's also, as our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports, accused of tolerance for corruption.