Amid grinding war, protesting Ukrainians still want their voices and values heard at home

Protestors denounce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov at a rally in Kyiv on July 17, 2026, AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Ukraine is experiencing its largest domestic protests since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The spark to the unrest was the summary dismissal on July 15, 2026, of the country’s youthful defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, appointed just six months ago. Fedorov, seen as charismatic and tech savvy, was already viewed…