Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections to be held during the war, despite the suspension of voting under Ukraine’s martial law.
In a video published on YouTube on Tuesday, Fedorov said democracy should not be „held hostage by Russia” and argued that Ukraine’s fight was aimed at preserving its status as a free European state. Martial law has been in force since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, and elections are suspended under the measure.
Fedorov, 35, did not name President Volodymyr Zelensky directly in the video. He called instead for a legal, secure and workable system that could restore a full democratic process during what he described as a prolonged war. Zelensky had not publicly responded to the video at the time of the report.
The former minister said Ukraine faced a systemic governance crisis and was afraid of change. He also pointed to corruption as a factor undermining the country’s war effort.
Dismissal and ministry record
Fedorov was removed as defence minister in late July, six months after taking the position. His departure prompted protests across the country. The dismissal was widely seen as connected to tensions between Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was then Ukraine’s army commander-in-chief. Syrskyi was replaced several weeks later after continuing protests increased pressure on Zelensky.
During his time at the defence ministry, Fedorov was credited with efforts to combat corruption, use data to assess battlefield performance and expand the use of drones and other technology. He had previously served as minister of digital transformation, where he created a volunteer IT Army of Ukraine for cyber-attacks against Russian targets and led the Army of Drones fundraising effort.
As defence minister, he continued to focus on drone warfare and procurement. He also asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia’s use of Starlink satellites for drone attacks, a move credited in the report with disrupting Russian frontline operations.
Zelensky has appointed career intelligence official Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister. Other government posts, including deputy prime minister for military innovation, were offered to Fedorov, but he has said he would return only as defence minister.
Source: BBC News
