Sacked Ukraine Defence Minister Fedorov Calls for Wartime Elections

Mykhailo Fedorov, who was unexpectedly dismissed as Ukraine's defence minister in late July after only six months in the role, published a video on YouTube on 19 August calling for presidential elections to be held during the ongoing war with Russia. Many observers see the statement as the most significant challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky's authority since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

What Fedorov said

"Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," Fedorov said in the video. He argued that Ukraine is fighting "precisely because we want to remain a free European state" and called for a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" to restore democratic processes even in wartime. He described a "systemic crisis of governance" and said the country was "scared of change". Critically, he did not mention Zelensky by name, nor did he indicate his own political plans.

Context of his dismissal

Fedorov's firing in late July sparked protests across Ukraine and was widely attributed to tensions between him and army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Syrskyi himself was replaced weeks later amid continuing protests. During his tenure, Fedorov had earned credit for fighting corruption and using data analysis to try to improve front-line performance. Zelensky had offered Fedorov other posts — including deputy prime minister for military innovation — but Fedorov has said he would only return as defence minister.

Zelensky's response

Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022, which suspends elections. Zelensky had not responded to the video by the time this report was published. Yevgeniy Khmara, a career intelligence official, has been named acting defence minister.

Update (19 Aug): Fedorov escalated the crisis further by calling for presidential elections in a YouTube video, declaring that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia" and warning of a "systemic crisis of governance." Zelensky's office dismissed the call as "highly bizarre" and lacking realism. Parliament voted to confirm Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. Anti-corruption agencies launched raids on current and former MPs; Zelensky's deputy chief of staff Iryna Mudra was also dismissed. A Russian drone struck a minibus in Kherson, killing four people.