Zelenskyy Rejects Wartime Elections Call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected a high-profile call from his former defense minister to hold national elections during Russia’s ongoing invasion, warning that a vote under current conditions would act as a “tsunami” capable of splitting the country and risking its destruction.
Speaking to journalists yesterday – including reporters from POLITICO and the Kyiv Independent, Zelenskyy said: “I believe that during a war like this, elections in general pose major risks.” He added that elections “right now would be a tsunami for the state, one that would divide Ukraine” and that his priority remains leading the country “to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state.” In remarks also carried by France 24, he stated that moving toward elections in wartime would be a path to destroy the country.
The comments mark Zelenskyy’s first direct public response to former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who on August 18 released a nine-minute video address urging Ukraine to find a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” to restore democratic processes even during prolonged conflict. Fedorov, 35, argued that “democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia” and that people cannot endlessly live without understanding why certain decisions are made. He framed elections as essential to Ukraine remaining a free European state.
Fedorov’s intervention is the most significant internal political challenge to Zelenskyy since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. A former close ally and prominent reform figure known for advancing Ukraine’s drone strategy, Fedorov was dismissed in a July 2026 government reshuffle. His ouster triggered weeks of protests in Kyiv and other cities demanding his reinstatement and criticizing aspects of military leadership. The row also contributed to the dismissal of then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy provided new details on the underlying tensions, describing a serious conflict between Fedorov and Syrskyi over the division of authority between the Defense Ministry and military command. The president said he rejected Fedorov’s proposal for a restructured “Ministry of War” that would have altered the chain of command, after which the two men stopped communicating directly. “There cannot be a conflict at this level between the leaders,” Zelenskyy said. “It is simply a catastrophe in a country at war.” He noted that he offered Fedorov four alternative government positions, all of which were declined; Fedorov has indicated he would return only as defense minister. Zelenskyy further suggested Fedorov “is going himself – or is being pushed – toward wrong things.”
Ukraine has operated under martial law since the 2022 invasion, which constitutionally suspends elections. Zelenskyy’s five-year presidential term formally ended in May 2024, yet successive postponements of presidential and parliamentary votes have drawn limited domestic pushback until recently, as public focus remained on national survival. International pressure, including from the United States under President Donald Trump, has periodically raised the issue. Zelenskyy has previously signaled openness to elections within 60-90 days if allies provided security guarantees.
Fedorov’s emergence as a potential rival highlights growing fatigue with centralized decision-making and demands for greater transparency after years of war. Polling has occasionally shown him competitive in hypothetical matchups, though Zelenskyy retains substantial support as a wartime leader. Critics of the election call argue it risks fracturing the unity that has underpinned Ukraine’s resistance, while supporters of Fedorov’s broader critique see it as a necessary conversation about governance and accountability.
