After being fired from his role six months ago, former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged the government, and the world, to hold presidential elections even while Ukraine is still fighting. His video, posted to YouTube on Tuesday, sees the country’s democracy as an entity that can’t be hostage, and calls for a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” to restore a full democratic process during a prolonged war. Fedorov’s call is the biggest political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the Russian invasion began in Feb. 2022.
Fedorov, aged 35, was appointed defence minister only a year ago, but was dismissed in late July – quite a surprise for many. During his tenure he set up an “IT Army of Ukraine”, launched cyber‑attacks on Russian forces, and pioneered the Army‑of‑Drones fundraising initiative that gamified war by awarding credits for Ukrainian units hitting Russian targets. He even asked Elon Musk to cut off Starlink supply to Russian drone operators, a move that disrupted frontline operations.
Seeing his dismissal as a sign of deep political turmoil, Fedorov did not mention Zelensky by name but implied a clash between the president and the army’s commander‑in‑chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Syrskyi was replaced weeks later, and protests have erupted across Ukraine. Zelensky’s answer to Fedorov’s call is still unwritten; however, he has appointed Yevgeniy Khmara, a low‑profile intelligence officer, as acting defence minister while offering Fedorov outside roles – from deputy prime minister for military innovation – that the former minister has rejected, saying he would only return as defence minister.
Fedorov’s comments highlight a “systemic crisis of governance” and a fear of change; he stresses that corruption is undermining Ukraine’s war effort and hindering democratic progress. His speech is both a plea for continuity in strategic defense leadership and a demand that Ukraine not wait for peace to consider its political future.
