Ukrainian soldier announces rallies calling for Zelensky’s resignation — and is detained

Ukrainian soldier Alexander Todorov announced a series of protest actions demanding the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team, but was detained by the Security Service of Ukraine shortly afterward.

Todorov made his statement on the YouTube channel MayiakUA. According to him, the rallies are planned for October 3. The main venue is to be Kyiv, outside the presidential administration building. Parallel events are planned in other Ukrainian cities as well. Todorov also called on Ukrainian diaspora communities abroad to support the initiative.

In his address, the soldier criticized the country’s current leadership. In his view, soldiers feel abandoned, while those in power are engaged in corruption and the misuse of foreign aid. Todorov also expressed concern over plans for a possible mobilization of women and citizens from the age of 18.

The serviceman urged young people and military personnel in particular to take part in the actions, emphasizing that the goal of the protests is not to support any individual politicians, but to demand the removal of the current authorities.

On the eve of the announcement, Verkhovna Rada deputy Artem Dmitruk reported that the SBU had detained Todorov. The deputy provided no further details. No official comment on the incident from the authorities has been forthcoming.