Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was unexpectedly sacked in late July, has issued his most direct challenge yet to President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, calling in a YouTube video on Tuesday for the country to hold elections despite the ongoing Russian invasion. "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," said Fedorov, 35, adding that Ukraine must find a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" to restore a full democratic process even during a prolonged war. Though he did not mention Zelensky by name, Fedorov accused the government of a "systemic crisis of governance," warning that Ukrainians "cannot live without end in a state in which they do not understand why certain decisions are taken."
Elections in Ukraine have been suspended since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, when Kyiv imposed martial law. Zelensky's presidential mandate formally expired in 2024, and Russia — as well as former U.S. President Donald Trump — has previously used the absence of elections to question his legitimacy. Fedorov acknowledged the genuine logistical obstacles: ensuring voting rights for soldiers, people living near the front line, and the millions of Ukrainians who have fled abroad. But he argued that "complexity does not mean impossibility," pointing to Ukraine's record of achieving what the world considered unthinkable.
Fedorov was appointed defence minister in January 2026 and spent just six months in the role before his abrupt dismissal, which triggered weeks of street protests across Ukraine. During his tenure he was credited with driving anti-corruption reforms, modernising military procurement — which he says involved billions of dollars in equipment contracts — and pushing a high-tech, drone-centred approach to warfare. He argued that his reform of acquisition procedures had contributed to his removal, implying that powerful vested interests resisted the changes. Zelensky subsequently also replaced army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, widely seen as Fedorov's main institutional rival, after protests mounted further pressure on the president. Zelensky has since nominated career intelligence official Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister, with parliament expected to vote on the appointment.
The timing of Fedorov's video — released hours after Zelensky formally submitted his cabinet nominations to Ukraine's parliament, the Rada — underscores the political weight of the moment. Fedorov's dismissal drew comparisons to Zelensky's earlier sidelining of popular army chief Valery Zaluzhny in 2024, who was dispatched as ambassador to London. Analysts noted that while Zaluzhny publicly denied pushing for elections, Fedorov has now crossed that line explicitly, potentially giving the protest movement a concrete political demand. A further demonstration in support of Fedorov is planned outside parliament on Wednesday, according to his former adviser Sergiy Sternenko.
The crisis unfolds against a deteriorating security backdrop. Russia's attacks killed 17 people in Ukraine on Tuesday, while Kyiv launched what regional officials described as one of the largest drone strikes of the war against Moscow — some 600 drones targeting the Russian capital — as part of a sustained campaign against Russian energy and logistics infrastructure. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed London's full support for Ukraine after Moscow warned of "consequences" following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in recent strikes inside Russia. With diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled and civilian casualties rising sharply, Fedorov's call for democratic renewal adds a volatile domestic dimension to a country already under enormous strain.