Ousted Ukraine defense chief Fedorov calls for wartime elections in challenge to Zelensky

Ukraine's recently dismissed defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has issued a significant challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, calling for wartime elections. In a video address, Fedorov declared that Ukraine faces a "systemic crisis of governance" and urged the nation to find a legal and safe way to resume its democratic processes, even amidst the ongoing war with Russia.

Fedorov's demand is the first of its kind from a prominent Ukrainian political figure since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Current Ukrainian law prohibits elections during wartime. "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," Fedorov stated, emphasizing the need for a mechanism to allow Ukraine to renew its democratic process under long-war conditions. The 35-year-old minister, once a close Zelensky ally, was unexpectedly fired in July, just six months after his appointment with vows of reform.

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Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war.

His dismissal followed a public dispute with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, highlighting a rift over war strategy. Protests erupted in Kyiv, with thousands demanding Syrskyi's sacking and Fedorov's reinstatement. While Fedorov did not explicitly state his intention to run in any future election, a recent poll suggests he could defeat Zelensky in a runoff. Zelensky's office has not yet responded to Fedorov's statement, which came as Zelensky sought parliamentary confirmation for a new Defense Minister.

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The old system lives by its own rules too often. It protects itself. It is scared of change.