Fedorov Calls for Wartime Elections
Ukraine’s recently dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for the restoration of national elections even while the war with Russia continues, arguing that democracy must not be held hostage by Moscow.
In a nine-minute video address released late Tuesday, the 35-year-old former minister said Ukraine must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism to renew its democratic process under wartime conditions. “We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state,” Fedorov stated. “Putin should not decide when Ukrainians can choose their government.” He described a systemic crisis of governance, criticising resistance to reform, decisions driven by personal loyalty rather than results, and wartime corruption that he said undermines the military effort. “Corruption in wartime is not merely a financial issue. It is a matter of our capability to survive and win.”
The remarks mark the most direct political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from a major Ukrainian figure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Fedorov, a longtime presidential ally, did not name Zelenskyy but made clear his dissatisfaction with the current system. He was abruptly dismissed on 15 July after only six months as defence minister, having previously spent more than six years as Minister of Digital Transformation, where he developed the Diia e-government platform and helped secure early Starlink access. His removal, linked to tensions with military commanders, prompted rare wartime protests calling for his reinstatement.
Hours before the video, Zelenskyy nominated Yevhenii Khmara, a career intelligence official and acting defence minister, as the permanent replacement. Parliament is expected to vote on the nomination as early as Wednesday. Fedorov has previously said he would return to government only as defence minister.
Ukrainian law prohibits elections under martial law, which has been repeatedly extended since the invasion. Zelenskyy’s presidential term formally expired in May 2024, yet no national votes have been held. Logistical obstacles remain substantial, including voting access for more than a million service members, millions of refugees abroad, and residents of frontline or occupied areas. Fedorov acknowledged the difficulties but insisted complexity does not equal impossibility, stressing the need to protect the rights of soldiers, the diaspora and frontline communities while ensuring institutional independence and public trust.
Recent polling has shown Fedorov as a competitive political figure, placing him third in a hypothetical first-round presidential contest behind Zelenskyy and former armed forces commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi, with the potential to defeat the incumbent in a runoff. He offered no explicit indication of personal candidacy.
As of Wednesday morning the presidential office had issued no public response. Zelenskyy has long maintained that elections are impractical during active hostilities, though he has said Ukraine could organise a vote within 60 to 90 days if allies provided security guarantees and legislation were updated. Some critics of wartime elections argue that a campaign could fracture national unity at a critical moment.
