We covered the fallout from Zelensky's government reshuffle — Here's what you helped us do this week

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

This week, a political storm engulfed Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky set a government reshuffle in motion, leading to the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's defense minister. Fedorov was in the role for only six months, but his tenure produced noticeable results, with the tide of the war shifting more in Ukraine's favor than it had in years.

Ukrainian society immediately rallied against the move, and by Thursday morning, thousands were protesting in cities across Ukraine. Another protest in Kyiv is planned for Friday evening. Given the strong backlash against Zelensky's decision and its potentially devastating impact on Ukraine’s war effort, we decided to publish an editorial, where we argue that this move is a grave mistake and risks turning the tide of war back in Russia's favor.

Above is a photo from the protest in Kyiv, taken by our videographer, Olena Zashko.

We want to say thank you for your support of independent journalism in Ukraine. Your contributions give us the financial stability and the freedom to report on stories like this, without having to depend on government funding, a wealthy owner, or anything else that could threaten our editorial independence.

We'd like to give a warm welcome and thanks to the 346 new members who joined this week. We wouldn't be here without you.

Here's what you helped us do at the Kyiv Independent this week:

• We examined the political turmoil unfolding in Kyiv. Oleg Sukhov explained the motivations behind Zelensky's surprise government reshuffle, while Kateryna Denisova reported on wider fallout from Fedorov’s dismissal, and why it might be one of Zelensky’s biggest blunders yet.

• We reported on the backlash in Ukraine following Fedorov’s dismissal. Our reporters spoke with Ukrainian soldiers and veterans, who told us Fedorov's tenure had finally delivered long-awaited changes to move Ukraine's military away from Soviet-style practices, and spoke with those rallying in central Kyiv.

• We assessed Fedorov’s achievements as Ukraine’s defense minister. From Starlink to strikes on Crimea, reporters on our war desk looked at what Fedorov got right in his six months in office, and what his dismissal risks reversing.

• We continued to follow Ukraine’s drone strike campaign, targeting Russian ships in the Sea of Azov. Polina Moroziuk looked at how Ukrainian drone strikes targeted military and commercial vessels, disrupted a key maritime corridor, and became part of Kyiv's broader effort to isolate occupied Crimea and weaken Russia’s logistics and export networks. 

• We explained how Ukraine's outdated pornography laws have created a system vulnerable to corruption and abuse. Dominic Culverwell and Kateryna Denisova examined how adult content creators face the threat of fines and criminal charges, why lawmakers are moving toward decriminalization, and how regulation could bring additional tax revenue to support the country's wartime economy.

• We also examined the rise of David Arakhamia, whose influence far exceeds his public profile. Kateryna Denisova profiled this key member of Zelensky’s inner circle, showing how Arakhamia’s power has grown since Zelensky’s right-hand man Andriy Yermak was dismissed in November last year, following a major corruption scandal.

• We reported on how a Kremlin-linked photographer's work on occupied Mariupol reached the shortlist of one of Germany's top photography awards. Kate Tsurkan examined Valery Melnikov's "Open Wounds" series, his ties to Russian state-backed media, and how seemingly “neutral” language can help spread Moscow’s narratives about Russia’s war against Ukraine among international audiences.

• We looked at Ukraine’s campaign to isolate Russian-occupied Crimea. In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines how Ukrainian drone strikes are targeting Russian military infrastructure, logistics, and supply routes across the peninsula, and whether Kyiv's strategy is beginning to undermine Moscow's control over one of Putin's most prized territorial gains.

• We spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten at the 2026 NATO Summit. Jetten discussed Europe's support for Ukraine, Kyiv's future in NATO, and the changing transatlantic relationship. You can watch the video here.

Finally, on a positive note, we're excited to share that the Kyiv Independent is coming to London. After a sold-out event in New York, our team will host an evening of live storytelling, photography, and conversation at Kings Place on October 2. You will have the chance to meet our journalists, hear firsthand stories from Ukraine, explore “The War They Live” photo exhibition, and take part in a Q&A with our leadership team. You can find more information and buy tickets here. Hope to see you there!

Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally sourced news from Ukraine to the world.