Ukraine's Sacked Defence Minister Demands Wartime Elections
Ousted Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, challenging President Zelenskiy's leadership amid a governance crisis.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's recently dismissed Defence Minister, has publicly called for wartime elections, presenting the most significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since the Russian invasion began.
In a Tuesday night address, the 35-year-old stated that Ukraine must find a legal and safe mechanism to renew its democratic process even during a prolonged conflict. He accused the government of a "systemic crisis of governance" and criticised wartime corruption, though he did not make specific accusations. This marks his strongest criticism yet of the president, who has not yet responded to the remarks.
Fedorov, once a close ally and the architect of Zelenskiy's successful 2019 social media campaign, was appointed as the country's youngest minister that year. He later became Minister of Digital Transformation, where he launched the Diia app, a platform allowing citizens to handle government services like car registration and marriage certificates from their phones.
Following the 2022 invasion, Fedorov became a key figure in Ukraine's tech-driven war effort. He successfully appealed to Elon Musk to activate Starlink satellite internet over the country, which has become vital for battlefield communications. He also championed an "army of drones," creating a system that rewarded soldiers with weapons for verified strikes, amassing valuable battlefield data.
Promoted to Defence Minister in January 2026, Fedorov promised a data-driven overhaul of a ministry plagued by corruption scandals. However, he failed to deliver on proposed conscription reforms. His abrupt dismissal in mid-July, amid a broader reshuffle, sparked rare public protests in Kyiv and other cities, with demonstrators demanding his reinstatement and the removal of the military chief.
While the military chief was subsequently replaced, Fedorov was not reappointed. His latest call for elections comes just before the parliamentary vote to confirm his nominated successor, escalating the political tension within the country's wartime leadership.