Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election following his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The demand highlights growing internal tensions within the Ukrainian government as the country navigates a prolonged conflict and questions over democratic legitimacy.
Fedorov was fired last month, just six months [4] after his appointment to the post. Reports indicate the removal stemmed from tensions between Fedorov and army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
In a public video, Fedorov said that a wartime election is necessary to reaffirm democratic legitimacy while the conflict continues. Ukraine has been under martial law since the Russian invasion began in 2022 [1], a status that has suspended national elections [3].
The war has now been ongoing for approximately four and a half years [2]. While the country remains focused on the military effort, the call for a vote introduces a political challenge to the current administration's mandate.
President Zelensky has not yet responded to Fedorov's video. However, some reports suggest Zelensky said he was ready to hold a wartime election if the U.S. provides security guarantees.
Fedorov's public challenge marks a rare open break between a high-ranking former official and the presidency during the ongoing state of emergency.
“Fedorov said a wartime election is needed to reaffirm democratic legitimacy.”
This development signals potential fractures within Ukraine's top leadership and a growing debate over the balance between wartime security and democratic processes. By calling for an election, Fedorov is challenging the legal suspension of voting under martial law, placing pressure on Zelensky to address his mandate as the conflict enters its fifth year.
