Some made the link between the government’s bid to curtail the independence of Nabu and Sap. Powerful figures in Zelensky’s circle have come under scrutiny, with some either facing charges or investigation.
Zelensky’s move also came after the government rejected a candidate selected by an independent commission to head the Bureau for Economic Security – the main agency for investigating economic crimes in Ukraine.
The official reason Oleksandr Tsyvinski didn’t get the job was that he didn’t get the security clearance from the security service, and that is under the president’s control.
However, Tsyvinski is a well-regarded anti-corruption expert and the selection commission still wants him appointed.
All these elements resulted in one of the biggest power crises for Zelensky’s team since he came to power in 2019.
Three and a half years into the full-scale war, the risk of further such mis-steps could come at a significant cost.
Next year, Ukraine’s budget deficit could hit $13bn (£10bn), according to a National Bank estimate. Kyiv would not be able to continue fighting the war if were to lose Western partners’ support.
Already, the EU has reduced some of its financial aid to Ukraine because the government has not kept up with promised reforms.
Ukraine’s young protesters appear to have understood that all too well, and were prepared to challenge their government in a country they chose to stay in despite the deadly threat of Russian drone and missile attacks.