Ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov Demands Wartime Elections in Major Challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukraine's ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address on Tuesday, arguing that the nation faced a crisis of governance in the most significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the invasion by Russia.

Delivered via a video posted on YouTube, Fedorov’s demand marks the first time a major Ukrainian political figure has made such a call since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, despite Ukrainian law prohibiting elections during wartime. “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” Fedorov stated, emphasizing the need for a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism to renew the democratic process.

The 35-year-old Fedorov was previously a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky until his unexpected dismissal from the Defense Ministry in July. Shortly after his departure, Fedorov publicly criticized the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, exposing internal divisions over war strategies. Following public protests in Kyiv and heavy criticism, President Volodymyr Zelensky eventually replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi, while demonstrations supporting Fedorov persisted.

In his address, Fedorov condemned systemic governance issues and official corruption that he claims undermine the war effort, following his earlier assertions that his procurement reforms led to his firing. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently asked parliament to confirm new Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. While Fedorov did not explicitly announce a run for office, recent polls suggest he would perform strongly against President Volodymyr Zelensky in a potential runoff election.

Fedorov previously served as Ukraine’s digitalization chief and led the Ministry of Digital Transformation, where he pioneered drone warfare before taking over the Defense Ministry in January to pursue a technological and data-driven strategy against Russia.