HUNDREDS of protesters gathered in Kiev today after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed his defence minister, as part of a major government reshuffle.

Ukraine’s parliament approved Serhii Koretskyi, the head of state fossil fuel company Naftogaz, as the country’s new prime minister today.

Mr Zelensky nominated him, arguing that he was best placed to help prepare Ukraine for another wartime winter. He was approved in a 289-1 vote, with 21 abstentions.

Outgoing Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, is considered to be a moderniser whose technological expertise is credited in part with a significant improvement in Ukraine’s military performance in recent months against Russia’s bigger army.

He leaves the government after just six months in the post.

Mr Zelensky didn’t publicly give a reason for Mr Fedorov’s exit. Unconfirmed Ukrainian media reports said that he had a strained relationship with General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces.

The mostly young protesters shouted Mr Fedorov’s name and made crude remarks about Mr Skryskyi. They chanted: “Skryskyi go away!” and “A European army for a European country!”

Bohdan Huryak, a Kiev resident at the protest, said that he was “deeply outraged” by Mr Fedorov’s exit.

“I’m not deeply invested in the internal political debates, but this is a person who shows results on the battlefield, we see results, we feel the fighting spirit and confidence in victory rising,” he told reporters.

“And then, six months later, he is removed from office? Come on.”

The political furore took place against a backdrop of unceasing Russian aerial attacks.

Two people were killed and five others were wounded, including a child, when Russian missiles hit the capital overnight, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said.