KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, presenting the demand as a way to address what he described as a “systemic crisis of governance” and creating the most significant internal political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Fedorov made the appeal in a video address posted on YouTube on Tuesday, August 18. Ukrainian law currently prohibits elections during wartime, but the former minister argued that the country should develop a legal and practical mechanism to restore the full democratic process despite the continuing war.
- Fedorov has become the first major Ukrainian political figure since 2022 to publicly demand wartime elections.
- He accused the country’s political system of resisting reform and criticised corruption without naming officials.
- His dismissal from the Defence Ministry in July exposed growing tensions over military leadership and wartime strategy.
- Fedorov’s intervention comes as Zelenskiy moves to confirm Yevhenii Khmara as the new Defence Minister.
Fedorov calls for wartime elections in Ukraine
Fedorov, 35, said democratic processes should not be suspended indefinitely because of the war. He argued that Ukraine needed a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” capable of allowing elections under wartime conditions.
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” Fedorov said.
The appeal marks a major departure from the political consensus surrounding elections during the conflict. According to the supplied Reuters report, Ukrainian law does not permit elections while the country remains under wartime conditions.
Dismissal deepened tensions inside Ukraine’s leadership
Fedorov had been a close ally of Zelenskiy before his unexpected removal from the Defence Ministry in July, only six months after taking the post. His appointment had been accompanied by promises of sweeping changes to the ministry and a data-driven approach to defence management.
The dispute became more public after Fedorov criticised army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. Their disagreement reflected different approaches to the conduct of the war and contributed to a wider political debate about military leadership.
Zelenskiy said Fedorov was dismissed because he had been unable to work effectively with Syrskyi. The president later removed the military chief as public pressure mounted, while demonstrations supporting Fedorov continued in Kyiv.
Corruption and defence reforms at centre of criticism
In his latest address, Fedorov criticised what he described as entrenched resistance to change within Ukraine’s governing system. He also raised concerns about corruption, arguing that such problems were damaging the country’s war effort.
The former minister has previously said he believed his efforts to reform Defence Ministry procurement contributed to his dismissal. The procurement system handles billions of dollars in purchases of military equipment.
Fedorov’s political profile had already expanded significantly before his Defence Ministry appointment. He became Ukraine’s youngest minister when he was appointed digitalisation chief at 28 and remained in that role for six years. He was also the last surviving member of Zelenskiy’s original 2019 cabinet.
Political challenge comes as new defence minister is proposed
Fedorov’s address came only hours after Zelenskiy confirmed that he had asked parliament to approve Yevhenii Khmara as defence minister on Wednesday.
The timing placed Fedorov’s criticism directly alongside a major change in Ukraine’s defence leadership. Zelenskiy’s office had not immediately commented on the former minister’s address, according to the supplied Reuters report.
Fedorov did not announce that he intended to contest an election. However, the report cited a recent poll indicating that he would comfortably defeat Zelenskiy in a hypothetical presidential runoff, adding a potential electoral dimension to his increasingly public criticism.
Fedorov’s political profile and wartime role
Fedorov became nationally prominent through his work on digital transformation and his early adoption of drone technology in Ukraine’s defence strategy. After taking charge of the Defence Ministry in January, he promoted technological superiority and a data-driven approach to the war against Russia.
His latest message framed political reform as part of the country’s wider wartime challenge. He said Ukrainians were ready for a different country and argued that the state should respond to those expectations.
“Our people have long been ready for a different country,” Fedorov said. “Now, our state must become worthy of its people.”
What could happen next on wartime elections?
The immediate political question is whether Fedorov’s demand will gain wider support while Ukraine remains at war. Any move toward elections would have to address the existing legal restrictions as well as the practical conditions surrounding a national vote during the conflict.
Could Fedorov run against Zelenskiy?
Fedorov has not said that he plans to contest a future election. The supplied report says a recent poll nevertheless showed him performing strongly against Zelenskiy in a potential runoff, making his public intervention politically significant even without a declared candidacy.
Why are wartime elections controversial in Ukraine?
The central issue is that Ukrainian law prohibits elections during wartime. Fedorov is therefore calling for a mechanism that would allow democratic renewal while the country continues to face the conditions created by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Fedorov’s call has opened a new political front for Zelenskiy at a time when Ukraine is also managing changes in its defence leadership. His demand for wartime elections, criticism of governance and renewed focus on defence reforms could intensify the debate over how the country should balance democratic renewal with the demands of an ongoing war.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
