Dismissed Ukrainian defence minister calls for wartime presidential election

Ukraine's recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election, making the most direct political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. In a nine-minute video address released online late on Tuesday, Fedorov said Ukraine should "restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war". He argued that the country could continue fighting while also holding a national vote.

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Fedorov did not name Zelenskyy directly, but his remarks were widely framed as a criticism of the current wartime political order. He said democracy could not be "held hostage by Russia" and described Ukraine as fighting to remain a free European state. He also said people could not keep living in a system where they did not understand why decisions were made or why some reforms advanced while others were blocked.

The appeal comes after Fedorov's abrupt dismissal last month, which reportedly triggered protests. He had served as digital minister from 2019 until January, helping lead Ukraine's wartime use of drones, before a brief period as defence minister until July. His removal followed a falling out with military commander Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the reshuffle was followed by street demonstrations.

The row underlines continuing tensions inside Ukraine's leadership during the war. The call is politically significant because elections have been suspended under martial law since the start of Russia's invasion. Zelenskyy's five-year term ended in May 2024, but there has been little appetite in Ukraine to hold a contest while the war continues.

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Fedorov's intervention therefore goes to the heart of a long-running debate over how democratic institutions should function during a national emergency, and how much political continuity is needed for wartime governance. The issue also has wider implications beyond domestic politics. The question of elections in wartime has been raised externally as well, including by US President Donald Trump, who has previously demanded that Ukraine hold a vote.

At the same time, Kyiv has sought to show that it can sustain battlefield resistance and maintain state institutions despite the conflict. Fedorov's remarks add pressure to that balancing act, especially as corruption and loyalty within the system remain sensitive subjects. What remains unclear is whether Fedorov's appeal will gain broader support inside Ukraine's political class or among the public.

It is also not clear whether the government will respond formally to his remarks or whether the debate will remain largely political. For now, the key question is whether wartime conditions and martial law continue to outweigh calls for a renewed electoral mandate.

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