Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Calls for Wartime Elections, Pressuring Zelenskyy

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister, surprised the country's political establishment by publicly calling for presidential elections while the conflict with Russia continues. This is viewed as a rare political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who previously appointed Fedorov to the position.

In a nine-minute video posted on YouTube, Fedorov asked: "We must answer a fundamental question – how should the state function if the war lasts for years? Does Russia really have the right to decide when Ukrainians can elect their government? I am sure it does not. Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia."

Fedorov, 35, is known as a technocrat without military experience. During his brief tenure as defense minister starting in January, he did not directly command combat operations but oversaw logistics, technological innovation, anti-corruption efforts, and negotiations for Western aid. His notable achievements included bold cyberattacks and drone strikes that destroyed Russian supply lines and oil refineries.

However, in July, President Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov following deep disagreements between him and General Oleksandr Syrskii, Ukraine's commander-in-chief. Since being removed, Fedorov has repeatedly pledged loyalty to Zelenskyy and declined other positions, including the role of presidential adviser on reforms.

Notably, former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is believed to have endorsed Fedorov's idea of wartime elections. Kuleba stated: "We do not know when the war will end. What if it lasts another three years? We would be living under a political model formed in 2019, which is already emotionally exhausted."

According to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll released in late July, Fedorov was the second most trusted potential presidential candidate, with 63% confidence, behind former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi (66%). President Zelenskyy ranked fourth with 56%.

Many Ukrainians believe Fedorov could make a better president than Zelenskyy, who came to power in 2019 promising anti-corruption reforms but has since been entangled in scandals involving key associates. Tetiana Baybachenko, a 35-year-old barista in Kyiv, said: "Fedorov is clean, not involved in any scandals. He changed how we handle administrative procedures," referring to the Diia app introduced by Fedorov when he served as minister of digital transformation from 2019 to 2026.

Observers, however, argue that holding elections amid near-daily missile and drone attacks is nearly impossible. Professor Olexiy Haran of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy noted that Ukraine's constitution explicitly bans any voting during wartime. "At any moment, Putin could sabotage the election, so what would we do? What Fedorov says is great, we all want elections, we want renewal of government, but we need a stable ceasefire" of at least six months, Haran said.

Svetlana Chunikhina, vice president of the Ukrainian Association of Political Psychologists, assessed Fedorov's effort to "promote political awakening" during wartime as a "false start," since most Ukrainians view wartime elections as unacceptable. As a rising politician, this move has practically "buried" his authenticity.

Kyiv-based analyst Igar Tyshkevych said Fedorov's call reflects deep problems within Zelenskyy's political team. The Servant of the People party, which brought Zelenskyy to power with 73% of the vote in 2019, is now largely dysfunctional, with the president's closest allies embroiled in numerous corruption scandals.

"The president has accumulated enough popularity and trust, but there is increasing delegitimization of state institutions. This could endanger our ability to win the war," Tyshkevych said. "The president sees the problem but tries to solve it with fake reforms" – repeatedly reshuffling the cabinet.

Another observer suggested that Fedorov's refusal to accept another government position and his call for elections stem from "political immaturity" and an inability to distinguish personal grievances from the nation's wartime needs. Boris Bondarev, a former Russian diplomat who resigned in protest of the 2022 invasion, said: "A statesman must distinguish between his own failures and those of the nation, and between losing a position and the need for a change in the country's entire political structure."