Ousted Ukraine defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov calls for wartime elections

Zelensky Continues To Oppose Wartime Democracy Amidst Escalated Election Demands Authored by John Weeks via Antiwar.com, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing mounting pressure to hold elections. The Ukrainian leader was elected to a five-year term in 2019, which expired in May 2024. Last week, Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly called for elections, breaking what has been characterized as a "wartime taboo" within the nation's elite. He continued to demand elections over the weekend and also directly accused the Defense Ministry of corruption. Fedorov is not the first high-profile Ukrainian figure to call for elections. Back in 2024, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko denounced Zelensky and called him an "autocrat" for refusing to hold elections. But Fedorov is the first figure to have served within the upper echelons of the national government to publicly endorse the restoration of democracy. On Sunday, Zelensky released comments slamming Fedorov's recommendation as a threat to Ukrainian national security. "I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then during such a war we can move in the selection of elections," Zelensky said. While Zelensky has portrayed wartime elections as an existential threat to all of Ukraine, he also said he would be open to elections if the nation's allies secured "specific conditions" that would allow all military personnel and displaced civilians, millions of people, to participate. This pledge undid the myth that Ukraine is forbidden to hold wartime elections by its own constitution under material law. It is also such an unlikely scenario; Zelensky appears open to democracy while safely shielded from it. If elections were held, he would lose. The challenge from Fedorov is significant because the 35-year-old was the youngest minister of defense in Ukraine's history, and his firing last month triggered protests throughout the country. Despite having no military experience, the former tech entrepreneur was viewed as revolutionizing Ukraine's drone warfare. He only served for a few months before a rift with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's armed forces at the time, prompted Zelensky to fire him. After protests broke out following Fedorov's sacking, Zelensky tried to placate the people by firing Syrskyi as well. This has not turned down the temperature, as protestors want Fedorov reinstated. The anger is understandable. Zelensky and his administration are keeping the nation at war, and there is no end in sight. The war has been the justification for martial law, and the martial law has been the justification for the temporary, indefinite suspension of democracy. Tyler Durden Wed, 08/26/2026 - 06:30

A long-time political ally of the Ukrainian president  — who was recently dumped as defence minister — is the first prominent Ukrainian political figure to call for an election since Russia's invasion began in 2022.

Popular Ukrainian Official Raises Stakes Against Zelensky With Election Call: Democracy Held 'Hostage' Ukrainian President Zelensky is once again under immense internal pressure, amid new corruption investigations which run straight through the presidential office as well as growing calls to finally hold elections despite the ongoing war with Russia. Mykhailo Fedorov, the country's popular young former defense minister and a longtime political ally of Zelensky - who was dismissed just last month largely as a result of tensions between him and army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi - stunned Kiev's political establishment this week by issuing a video address urgently calling for a path to elections. "We have to answer a fundamental question – how should a state function, if the war has lasted for years?" Fedorov said in the nine-minute-long YouTube video. via Reuters "Can Russia actually be entitled to define when Ukrainians can elect their authorities next time? I’m sure it’s not. Democracy can’t be Russia’s hostage," he said. Zelensky has long argued that martial law must stay in place, leaving no room for new elections based on the current constitution. The 35-year-old Fedorov's message was unexpected, and is being widely seen as a stab in the back to Zelensky. Al Jazeera has noted, for example: Since he was fired, Fedorov has repeatedly emphasized his loyalty to Zelenskyy and refused to accept other jobs such as a presidential aide in charge of reforms. He also claimed to have turned down a project with Palantir Technologies, a controversial, US-based software company that began collaborating with Ukraine’s military during Fedorov’s tenure. But Federov is now calling for "a legal, safe and realistic mechanism" to restart a full democratic process "even in the conditions of a long war" - which flies directly in the face of the Zelensky government's stance. This marks the first time a high-level political ally of Zelensky has publicly pushed national elections since the war's start. It is also significant given Federov remains well-liked among the Ukrainian public. There was a lot of anger and confusion, including rare wartime protests, upon his mid-July dismissal. His plea has sparked a little momentum: Former foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba reportedly backed Fedorov’s idea, saying on Tuesday that elections "after war will not be more civilized, than during it." "We don’t know when [the war] ends. What if it lasts for another three years? We will be living under the political model that was formed in 2019, which has already been emotionally exhausted," Kuleba, who helmed the Foreign Ministry in 2020-2024, was quoted by the Interfax Ukraine news agency as saying. Back in December of last year, at a moment it was clear that the Ukrainians were backing away from Washington pressure to get to the negotiating table with Russia, President Trump had unleashed rare criticism on the Zelensky government. Ukraine's ousted defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a video address, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance, in the biggest internal challenge to ‌President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia's invasion https://t.co/DJRxjcWH6t pic.twitter.com/b72CVNvj4Q — Reuters (@Reuters) August 19, 2026 "They haven’t had an election in a long time," Trump said at the time to Politico. "You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it's not a democracy anymore." But the reality is that American taxpayer funds, as well as US-made weaponry, continue to flow largely uninterrupted to Kiev. Trump had vowed to quickly wind down the war and achieve peace, but that has remained elusive. Tyler Durden Fri, 08/21/2026 - 04:15

Ukraine's ousted defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address on Tuesday, arguing the government was failing to tackle corruption.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's recently ousted defense minister and one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's longest-serving political allies, has called for wartime elections, signaling his clearest break yet with the administration that launched his political career.

Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections, without addressing concerns over how they could be held while at war.

Stricken Ukraine has been under martial law, prohibiting elections, since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022 but an ex-minister has warned: "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia."

The poll would represent the first leadership challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia invaded in 2022, with the ousted defence minister claiming Ukraine faces a "crisis of governance".

Ukraine's former defense chief, Mykhailo Fedorov, is demanding a wartime presidential election. This comes after his firing by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparked protests in Ukraine. CBS News' Aidan Stretch has more details.

In a bombshell address posted on YouTube, Ukraine’s ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections to be held even as the war against Russia continues, saying the country was gripped by a crisis of governance.  Ukrainian law prohibits elections while the country is under martial law, which was imposed on February 24, 2022, the day that the Russian invasion began. "This is complex," said Fedorov, arguing that "complexity does not mean impossibility. Ukraine has repeatedly done what the world considered impossible."

Ukraine's recently ousted defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, called for elections in an address on Tuesday, stating that the nation faced a crisis of governance, with his comments marking the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since 2022.

Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister has called for wartime elections in what could become the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister has called for wartime elections in what could become the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Ukraine’s ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called Tuesday for elections to be held even as the war against Russia continues, saying the country was gripped by a crisis of governance. The move by one of President Volodymyr Zelensky's most loyal and longstanding team members until recently could become the most significant internal challenge Zelensky has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion. FRANCE 24's Emmanuelle Chaze reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine’s sacked defence minister calls for wartime elections

Ousted Ukraine defence minister calls for wartime elections amid governance crisis

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in Ukraine in the biggest challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. DW has more.

KYIV Reuters —  Ukraine’s ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address on Tuesday, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance, in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia’s invasion. Fedorov’s call, delivered in a video address posted on YouTube, is the first such demand by a … The post Ukraine’s ousted defense minister calls for wartime elections in bombshell address appeared first on Egypt Independent.

Mykhailo Fedorov and Volodymyr ZelenskyyThe former Ukrainian defence minister has called for wartime elections in what appears to be a significant challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Mykhailo Fedorov, who was sacked by the Ukrainian president last month after falling out with the army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsksyi, said: “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia.”Ukraine has been under martial law since Vladimir Putin launched his illegal invasion in February 2022, meaning elections are on hold.Presidential elections were scheduled to take place in March or April 2024 but Zelenskyy has stayed on without a vote from the general public due to the ongoing war.Even so, his long premiership has become a major Kremlin talking point backed by US president Donald Trump who has supported the call for a presidential election.Fedorov did not mention Zelenskyy by name in his video or say whether he wants to run against the president.He claimed Ukraine is fighting Russia “precisely because we want to remain a free European state” and said it was time for a “legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even amidst a prolonged war”.The former defence minister was highly popular with the public during his six months in the post and his surprise dismissal sparked nationwide protests.He was praised for modernising Ukrainian warfare with drones and data, while also heading up a push to tackle corruption.Fedorov was offered other government positions but he has insisted he would only return as defence minister.His replacement, Yevhenii Khmara, was nominated to parliament as defence minister shortly before he posted his video.His intervention comes as Ukraine continues to intensify its retaliatory attacks across Russia, using drones to target oil refineries and the warehouses of online retailers.Moscow has picked a fight with the UK after British drones were used in these strikes.Prime minister Andy Burnham has insisted Ukraine still has Britain’s full support after the Russian embassy in London told the government it must face “consequences” of its backing for Kyiv. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Diane Abbott Under Fire For Describing Ukraine War As A 'Nato Campaign Against Russia'Trump Offers Word-Salad Gibberish To Explain His Position On Patriots For UkraineUkraine Could Be Building Patriots Inside A Year – But Still Needs Help Right Now, Envoy Says

Ukraine's ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in a bombshell address, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance, in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since Russia's invasion.

Former Ukraine Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, saying Kyiv must restore its democratic process despite the ongoing war.

Ukraine's ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address on Tuesday, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance.

Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections on Tuesday evening, stating that the nation was facing a crisis of governance. Fedorov was dismissed last month, sparking days of protests across Ukraine. It is the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 that a Ukrainian political figure demands presidential elections. 

Mykhailo Fedorov's call is first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia's full-scale invasion.

Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine faces ‘systemic crisis of governance’

Ukraine’s ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell address on Tuesday, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance, in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia’s invasion. Fedorov’s call, delivered in a video address posted on YouTube, is the first such demand by a major Ukrainian […]

Mykhailo Fedorov, who oversaw Ukraine’s pioneering drone strategy, says democracy “cannot be held hostage by Russia” in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the war broke out.

Mykhailo Fedorov, who oversaw Ukraine’s pioneering drone strategy, says democracy “cannot be held hostage by Russia” in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the war broke out.

Mykhailo Fedorov, who oversaw Ukraine’s pioneering drone strategy, says democracy “cannot be held hostage by Russia” in the biggest internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the war broke out.

While Fedorov did not say in his address that he would compete in any election, a recent poll indicated the ex-minister would comfortably beat Zelensky in a runoff vote.

Mykhailo Fedorov’s appeal is most direct challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russian invasion in 2022Ukraine’s recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election in the most direct political challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.The politician, whose abrupt sacking last month triggered a wave of protests, said that Ukraine had to “restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war” in a video address released online late on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...

Mykhailo Fedorov launches major challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine faces a crisis of governance in what appears to be an open challenge to President Zelensky