Key facts
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for Ukraine to hold elections during wartime.
- Fedorov cited a "systemic crisis of governance" and corruption as reasons for his demand.
- Ukrainian law currently prohibits holding elections while martial law is in effect.
- Fedorov's address is the first such demand from a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia's full-scale invasion.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration had previously discussed the possibility of holding elections.
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has broken a significant wartime taboo in Ukraine by publicly calling for elections to be held during the ongoing conflict. Fedorov argued in a video address that Ukraine faces a "systemic crisis of governance" and that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." His demand is the first of its kind from a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, challenging President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration.
Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections while martial law is in effect, a stance Kyiv has largely maintained. However, Fedorov's call brings a previously debated issue into the mainstream, suggesting a potential shift in political discourse. The timing of his address follows weeks of political turmoil, including corruption scandals and government reshuffles, which have reportedly shaken public confidence in Zelensky's leadership.
Sources indicate that Zelensky's office had been quietly discussing the possibility of holding elections for months, prompted in part by internal polling that showed stronger support for the president than anticipated. A high-level meeting involving Zelensky, his chief of staff, and other key officials reportedly considered holding presidential elections as early as mid-fall. However, Zelensky ultimately opted against it, a decision supported by his then-political rival, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Fedorov, who was recently dismissed from his post as Defense Minister, has been a longtime ally of Zelensky. His dismissal reportedly stemmed from an inability to work with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov has publicly criticized the "old system" and condemned official corruption, suggesting his reform efforts in defense procurement may have contributed to his ousting. Protests have occurred in Kyiv, with some demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and Syrskyi's dismissal. A recent poll suggested Fedorov could potentially defeat Zelensky in a runoff vote.