Protesters give Zelensky until Friday as he weighs Syrskyi's dismissal
Another demonstration is scheduled to take place in Kyiv on July 20 over President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov while keeping Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi in office.
One of the protest organizers, veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, told the Kyiv Independent that the movement now has two demands: reinstating Fedorov as defense minister and dismissing Syrskyi as commander-in-chief.
According to a source familiar with the matter, a decision on Syrskyi's future could come within days. Two people familiar with the discussions also said Fedorov was offered another government role focused on military technology and overseeing the Defense Ministry's modernization, but he is only willing to return as defense minister.
"It is important for Fedorov to continue all the projects he started," one source said.
Ukrainians have staged daily protests since July 16 in response to Fedorov's dismissal. During his tenure, he oversaw a number of reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities. The demonstrations have drawn thousands of participants in Kyiv, with smaller rallies taking place in other cities.
Koziatynskyi said organizers plan to suspend protests for three days after the July 20 demonstration.
"We've actually set a deadline of Friday for our demands to be met."
"Today's event is not a protest — it's an action focused on our demands. Then there will be a three-day pause until Friday. And if our demand is met by Friday, we'll stop."
The controversy has increasingly focused on the strained relationship between Fedorov and Syrskyi. According to the report, tensions between the two had been anticipated since Fedorov's appointment and reflected contrasting views on military leadership and organizational culture.
Syrskyi has been criticized by some soldiers and military analysts for favoring a highly centralized command structure and what critics describe as a Soviet-style approach to military management. Zelensky's decision to dismiss Fedorov while retaining Syrskyi has drawn criticism from lawmakers, veterans, and members of the public, who argue it could undermine reforms at the Defense Ministry while leaving broader concerns about military leadership unresolved.
Russian forces have launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine thus far in July than Russia reportedly produces each month
Russia has sharply increased its use of ballistic missiles against Ukraine, likely drawing from existing stockpiles as launch rates outpace current production, according to an analysis by Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi.
Citing unspecified intelligence from Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), Militarnyi reported on July 19 that Russia has already used up to two-thirds of its planned annual production of Zirkon hypersonic missiles in July alone. According to the report, Russia also launched more ballistic missiles in July than its estimated monthly production capacity.
Ukraine's Air Force reports indicate that Russian forces have launched 107 ballistic missiles and 20 Zirkon missiles against Ukraine so far in July. Militarnyi said Ukrainian intelligence estimates Russia currently produces about 60 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 40 missiles for the S-400 system each month.
The report suggests Russia is increasingly relying on its missile stockpiles to sustain the intensified campaign, as ballistic missiles have proven more difficult to intercept than drones and cruise missiles.
At the same time, Russia has reduced the number of drones used in its overnight attacks. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russian forces launched 2,955 drones during the first part of July 2026, compared with 5,749 drones in June 2026, indicating a shift toward a heavier reliance on ballistic missile strikes.
Two Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces after flag-raising operation in Kostiantynivka
Two Ukrainian soldiers from the controversial Skelia Assault Regiment were captured by Russian forces during an operation in Kostiantynivka, the regiment confirmed to the Kyiv Independent on July 20.
The incident followed the publication of a July 18 video showing Skelia personnel raising a Ukrainian flag in the city and claiming that Kostiantynivka remained under Ukrainian control and had been cleared of Russian troops.
On the same day, the anonymous Ukrainian Telegram channel Operatyvnyi ZSU published a separate video featuring the Skelia insignia. In it, three men identified as members of the regiment, holding flags bearing portraits of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and President Volodymyr Zelensky, said they had cleared the city's cultural center and raised the Ukrainian flag there. The video was later removed from the channel but continues to circulate on other platforms.
On July 19, Russia's Defense Ministry released footage purportedly showing two Ukrainian soldiers inside the same cultural center. The men identified themselves as members of the Skelia Assault Regiment and claimed that Kostiantynivka was under Russian control and that the rest of their group had been killed during the operation.
The Kyiv Independent reported that the regiment confirmed the capture of the two soldiers. The claims made by the captured servicemen in the Russian-released video could not be independently verified, and statements by prisoners of war may be made under coercion. The current tactical situation in Kostiantynivka remains contested.
Russians hit hospital in Kherson: seven injured
Seven people were injured after Russian forces struck a healthcare facility in Kherson on the afternoon of July 20, according to the Kherson Oblast Military Administration.
The attack, which occurred at around 11:40 a.m., damaged the medical facility and initially injured three members of its staff: a 49-year-old female doctor and two maintenance workers, aged 52 and 71. All three suffered blast injuries and concussions and were treated on an outpatient basis.
Authorities later reported that the number of injured had risen to six after an 18-year-old man and two nurses, aged 43 and 47, sought medical attention. They were diagnosed with blast injuries, shrapnel wounds, and concussions, with the two nurses requiring hospitalization.
A subsequent update confirmed a seventh victim—a 60-year-old woman.
Three killed and six injured in Russian attack on infrastructure facilities in Odesa
A Russian strike on civilian infrastructure in Odesa on the afternoon of July 20 killed three people and injured six others, Ukrainian officials said.
According to local authorities, the attack hit a civilian business, causing heavy damage. Equipment at the site caught fire, and a gas pipeline was also damaged, triggering an emergency response.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed the death toll of three and said six people were injured in the strike. Emergency crews continue to work at the scene to extinguish the fire and deal with the aftermath of the attack.