KYIV: Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections to be held despite the continuing war with Russia, mounting one of the most significant political challenges to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the conflict began in 2022.
Fedorov, who was unexpectedly dismissed in late July after six months as defence minister, said Ukraine needed a mechanism to restore the democratic process while remaining under martial law.
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” the 35-year-old said in a YouTube video on Tuesday, arguing that Ukraine was fighting to remain a free European state.
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Fedorov did not mention Zelensky by name or indicate whether he intended to contest a future election.
Governance concerns
The former minister warned that Ukraine faced a “systemic crisis of governance” and argued that corruption was damaging the country’s war effort.
His dismissal triggered protests across Ukraine and was widely linked to tensions with then army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was subsequently replaced following weeks of political pressure.
Zelensky has appointed career intelligence official Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister. Fedorov was reportedly offered other government positions but said he would return only as defence minister.
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Fedorov previously served as digital transformation minister and became known for promoting technology in Ukraine’s war effort.
He helped establish the volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” and later spearheaded the Army of Drones fundraising initiative.
As defence minister, he continued pushing drone warfare, military technology and procurement reforms while using data to assess battlefield performance.
His intervention comes as Ukraine and Russia intensify long-range attacks against each other, adding further pressure on Kyiv’s political and military leadership.
