Will Zelenskyy rehire b4 8/1 the defense minister after public protests over his firing?
73% of users predicted NO — the community got this one right. 41 predictions cast.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not reinstate ousted defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov before August 1, 2026, resolving this question no. Zelenskyy fired Fedorov, a popular tech-focused minister credited with expanding Ukraine's drone program, on July 16 as part of a broader government reshuffle, triggering days of street protests in Kyiv and other cities demanding his return. Facing continued pressure, Zelenskyy offered Fedorov alternative posts, including deputy prime minister for military innovations and deputy prime minister for technological development, but Fedorov publicly rejected each offer, saying he would not accept any position other than defense minister and that he did not understand the rationale for his dismissal.
The standoff continued alongside separate protests over Zelenskyy's firing of commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose rift with Fedorov was widely reported as a factor in the reshuffle. The community leaned toward a no resolution, with only 27% predicting a rehire, and the outcome matched that expectation, with Fedorov remaining outside the Ministry of Defense as protests continued into late July.