The march proceeded through central Kyiv from Taras Shevchenko Park to Ivan Franko Square, a traditional protest gathering place, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

By the time the front of the procession had reached Independence Square, the tail was still at Bessarabska Square. Police estimated the number of participants at 6,000. Most of the protesters were young people.

Participants carried Ukrainian and European Union flags, sang the Ukrainian national anthem and chanted: "We are coming halfway to meet you, now you come halfway to meet us," "Power is no joke," "Action, not inaction," "Bring him back!" and "You broke it – fix it," among other slogans. The demonstrators also unfurled a 26-meter-long Ukrainian national flag above their heads.

1 / 19Protesters held cardboard signs reading: "Fedorov to the Defense Ministry," "All of Ukraine is speaking," "Mykhailo Fedorov, we miss you," "Lord, give our leaders wisdom – preferably today," and "We stand with Fedorov," among others.

After making its way through the city center, the procession stopped at the traditional protest site, Ivan Franko Square, near the Office of the President, where the rally was held.

"I am convinced that listening to your people is a sign of strength, and I hope the president will indeed hear us. Without meaningful communication within society, frustration and despair will continue to grow, and that is certainly not what we should be entering an already extremely difficult winter with," one of the organizers of the rally, veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, wrote on social media.

He called on President Volodymyr Zelensky to continue the dialogue with Fedorov and give him a year to carry out reforms, after which decisions should be made based on the results.

The veteran also called on activists in other cities to join the initiative and march through central streets if the security situation allows.

On July 14, the Verkhovna Rada supported the resignation of Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. Along with Svyrydenko, the entire Cabinet automatically resigned.

On July 16, people in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, began protesting against Fedorov's dismissal as defense minister.

Read also:Zelensky offers Fedorov new leadership position

Zelensky said that mass protests against Fedorov's dismissal were an expression of democracy and freedom, the very values Ukraine is currently fighting for.

Yevhenii Khmara has officially served as acting defense minister since July 20.

Photos: Yevhen Kotenko, Kyrylo Chubotin / Ukrinform