Rare wartime protests broke out across Ukraine on Thursday following the dismissal of reform-minded Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as lawmakers prepared to vote on a new government amid the country’s ongoing war with Russia.

The cabinet reshuffle—President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s second in the past year—has sparked public criticism over the removal of Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology specialist widely credited with modernizing Ukraine’s military and driving efforts to improve battlefield efficiency despite limited resources.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Kyiv and several other cities, demanding an explanation for Fedorov’s departure in one of the few public protests seen in Ukraine since the war began.

Under the proposed government, energy executive Sergii Koretskyi is expected to become prime minister, while current Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is slated to replace Fedorov as defense minister, according to lawmakers.

The proposed changes have unsettled some political observers and members of the public, raising questions about the direction of Ukraine’s wartime leadership at a critical stage in the conflict.

Late Wednesday, Fedorov confirmed in a post on X that his time in office was coming to an end, though President Zelenskyy had not publicly commented on the decision as of Thursday.

Parliament began debating the proposed cabinet on Thursday, with Koretskyi widely expected to secure approval. However, the outcome of votes on several other ministerial appointments remained uncertain.

The reshuffle comes as Ukraine continues to confront mounting military and political challenges while seeking to maintain domestic unity and international support in its war against Russia.