Mykhailo Fedorov, the recently dismissed Ukrainian Defense Minister, has called for elections to be held while the country remains at war, stating that "democracy should not be held hostage by Russia." This call is seen as the biggest challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mykhailo Fedorov, former Ukrainian Defense Minister, has urged the country to hold elections despite the ongoing war, saying Ukraine needs a mechanism that is "legal, safe, and realistically achievable" to fully restore democratic processes even as the conflict with Russia drags on.
Fedorov, 35, who was dismissed from his defense minister position in July, released a video on YouTube stating, "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," emphasizing that Ukraine is fighting "because we want to remain a free European state."
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has been under martial law, which under Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections while martial law is in effect.
Fedorov’s call represents a significant domestic political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is the first clear demand by a senior Ukrainian politician for elections during the war since the conflict began.
Although Fedorov did not mention Zelenskyy by name in the video, he said Ukraine is facing a "systemic crisis in state administration," criticizing the existing political system as one that "often operates by its own rules, protects itself, and fears change."
He also addressed corruption issues in Ukraine, identifying them as factors undermining the war effort, and called for building a political system more responsive to the people.
Fedorov was once a close political ally of Zelenskyy and was appointed defense minister in January with a mandate to reform the ministry, but was unexpectedly dismissed just six months into his tenure.
Prior to that, Fedorov served as Digital and Digital Transformation Minister for six years and was the youngest minister in Ukraine’s history when first appointed at age 28. He was the last member of Zelenskyy’s initial cabinet to remain in office until recently.
At the start of the war, Fedorov played a key role in applying technology to the battlefield, establishing the volunteer network known as the "IT Army of Ukraine" to carry out cyber operations against Russian targets, and later led the "Drone Army" fundraising project to supply drones to the Ukrainian military.
He also introduced the concept of "gamification" to the war effort, designing a system that awards Ukrainian military units credits for striking Russian targets.
Upon becoming defense minister, Fedorov continued to emphasize drones, advanced combat technology, and arms procurement, even urging SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from using the Starlink satellite system to support drone attacks.
However, relations between Fedorov and Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi became deeply strained, believed to be a key reason behind Fedorov’s dismissal.
After Fedorov was removed, thousands protested demanding Syrskyi’s dismissal and Fedorov’s reinstatement as defense minister, and although Zelenskyy later removed Syrskyi amid public pressure, the political tensions remained.
Fedorov was offered other government roles, including Deputy Prime Minister for Military Innovation, but stated he would only return to government if reinstated as defense minister.
Just hours before releasing his video calling for elections, Zelenskyy confirmed he had asked parliament to officially confirm acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, with a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
Fedorov has not revealed plans to run for office, but recent polls suggest he could comfortably defeat Zelenskyy in a second-round presidential election, making his call for elections a direct political challenge.
However, calls for elections during wartime have drawn criticism from some Ukrainians, including former supporters of Fedorov’s return as defense minister, with critics arguing that free and safe elections are nearly impossible to hold amid ongoing conflict.
Zelenskyy’s five-year presidential term ended in May 2024, but under the Ukrainian constitution, elections cannot be held while martial law is in effect, allowing him to remain in office until elections can be legally conducted.
Last year, former U.S. President Donald Trump accused the Ukrainian government of using the war as an excuse to avoid holding elections, while Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine is ready to hold elections within 60–90 days if allies guarantee the election process’s safety.
However, conducting free and safe elections faces major challenges as Ukraine continues to suffer missile and drone attacks by Russia, with many Ukrainians viewing Trump’s remarks as echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to question Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as Ukraine’s leader.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has increased long-range attacks on Russian territory, sending hundreds of drones to strike oil refineries and warehouses of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.
Andrey Vorobyov, governor of Moscow region, reported that Moscow faced one of the most intense drone attacks recently on the night of 15 August, with around 600 drones targeting the area.
Local officials said the latest wave of Ukrainian attacks across Russia resulted in 9 deaths and 23 injuries, including one child, while the latest Russian attack on Ukraine on Tuesday morning caused 17 deaths.
Amid escalating retaliatory attacks between the two sides, Fedorov’s call for Ukraine to restore democracy through elections has become a sensitive political issue that could affect the Zelenskyy government’s relations with domestic political forces during a war with no near end in sight.