Mykhailo Fedorov, the former Ukrainian defence minister dismissed in July, has demanded that Ukraine hold elections despite the ongoing war with Russia, marking the first such call by a prominent Ukrainian politician since the 2022 invasion.
In a video address on Tuesday evening, Fedorov argued that democracy "cannot be held hostage by Russia" and urged the government to find a legal, secure and realistic mechanism to restore full democratic processes even during a prolonged war. He described the situation as a systemic governance crisis, noting the difficulty of ensuring safe voting for military personnel, the diaspora and frontline communities.
Fedorov's mid-July dismissal triggered mass protests across Ukraine that continued into August. President Volodymyr Zelensky has since nominated Yevhen Khmara as defence minister and replaced army chief Oleksandr Syrsky with Mykhailo Drapatyi, appointments still awaiting parliamentary approval.