Key facts
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for Ukraine to hold elections during the ongoing war.
- Fedorov stated that Russia should not determine when Ukrainians can elect their government.
- He emphasized the need for a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism for wartime voting.
- Fedorov cited a "systemic crisis of governance" and criticized official corruption.
- President Zelensky nominated Yevhen Khmara as the permanent Defense Minister.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's recently dismissed defense minister, has called for the country to hold elections during the ongoing war, asserting that Russia should not have the authority to decide when Ukrainians can vote. In a video address, Fedorov stated that Ukraine faces a "systemic crisis of governance" and that democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. He emphasized the need to find a "legal, safe and realistic mechanism" that would allow for the renewal of Ukraine's full democratic process even under prolonged wartime conditions. Fedorov also criticized official corruption, suggesting it harms Ukraine's war effort. His call comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy nominated acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara for the permanent post, a decision expected to be voted on by parliament soon. Fedorov, a longtime ally of Zelenskiy, was unexpectedly fired from the defense ministry in July.