In the days leading up to Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s visit to Ukraine, tensions were running high on the streets of Kyiv. Protesters marched over president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to sack his defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Young and forward-thinking, he was seen as the main mover behind the country’s drone strategy.

The marchers called for the sacking of the country’s army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Zelenskiy eventually capitulated to the demands and the Russian-trained career soldier was ousted.

So how damaged is Zelenskiy after this political misstep?

Meanwhile, the war continues, with Russia launching its most sustained attack on the capital, and Ukraine responding with an attack on a vast goods depot inside the Russian border.

And what was on the agenda when Taoiseach Micheál Martin met Zelenskiy in Kyiv last Thursday?

Irish Times Europe correspondent Jack Power was in Kyiv and he reports for us on a turbulent week for Ukraine’s president.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan with research by John O’Connor.

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