Ukraine's Sacked Defense Minister Urges Wartime Elections, Citing Governance Crisis

In a significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's recently dismissed Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has publicly called for elections to be held despite the ongoing war with Russia. In a video address posted on Tuesday, Fedorov argued that the country is facing a deep crisis of governance that requires restoring democratic processes.

"We must find a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war," Fedorov stated. His appeal comes as Ukrainian law currently prohibits elections under martial law, which has been in effect since the full-scale Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022.

Fedorov, who was removed from his post in July, described the current system as being oriented toward self-preservation and resistant to change. He also leveled criticism at official corruption, asserting that it has weakened the nation's war effort. "Corruption in wartime is not merely a financial issue. It is a matter of our capability to survive and win," he said, emphasizing that every hryvnia intended for defense must serve that purpose.

The former minister has suggested his dismissal was linked to his overhaul of the Defense Ministry's procurement system, which manages billions of dollars in equipment purchases. His public remarks come just hours after Parliament received a submission from Zelenskyy nominating Yevhenii Khmara as the new defense minister.

Fedorov's stance has resonated with the public. Large protests have been held in Kyiv over the past month, with weekend marches still drawing thousands of demonstrators who demand his reinstatement. The President's office has not yet commented on Fedorov's address.