Ukraine’s Former Defence Minister Calls for Wartime Elections in Challenge to Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for the country to hold elections despite the ongoing war with Russia, marking one of the most significant political challenges President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has faced since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a video address published on Tuesday, Fedorov argued that Ukraine’s democratic institutions should not remain suspended indefinitely because of the war.
He urged the government to develop a lawful, secure and practical framework that would allow the country to restore its full electoral process while fighting continues.
Ukrainian law currently prohibits national elections under martial law, which has remained in effect since Russia’s invasion. The restriction has effectively postponed the presidential election that was due in 2024, extending Zelenskyy’s tenure for the duration of martial law.
Fedorov’s intervention is particularly significant because he was previously regarded as a close ally of Zelenskyy. His abrupt removal as defence minister in July, only six months after taking the position, triggered political controversy and protests from supporters demanding his reinstatement.
At 35, Fedorov had quickly developed a reputation as a reform-minded official prepared to challenge established practices within Ukraine’s military establishment. His dismissal, followed weeks later by changes in the country’s military leadership, has intensified speculation about his political ambitions and whether he could eventually emerge as a serious challenger to Zelenskyy.
The former minister has reportedly been offered alternative positions within government, including a role as deputy prime minister responsible for military innovation, but has indicated that he would consider returning to government only as defence minister.
Fedorov’s demand for elections represents a major departure from the political consensus that has prevailed in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. No prominent political figure had previously mounted such a direct public campaign for the resumption of national elections under wartime conditions.
The call also comes at a politically sensitive moment for Zelenskyy. With his regular presidential term having expired in May 2024, the continuation of martial law has prevented a new presidential vote from taking place.
Zelenskyy’s office had not publicly responded to Fedorov’s latest remarks at the time of publication.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has nominated Yevhenii Khmara, a career intelligence official with limited public exposure, to formally head the Defence Ministry after serving in an acting capacity. The president confirmed that he had asked parliament to approve Khmara’s appointment.
Fedorov’s intervention could now add a new dimension to Ukraine’s increasingly complex wartime politics, raising fresh questions about when elections can safely and legally resume—and whether the country’s political landscape could look markedly different when they eventually do.
