Protesters hold placards and march in central Kiev on August 16, 2026, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, during a rally calling for reform of the defense sector and the reinstatement of the young, tech-savvy defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was fired years ago.
Serhii Okunev | AFP | Getty Images
Former Ukrainian Defense Secretary Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in what many see as the most direct political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia launched a full-scale invasion nearly four-and-a-half years ago.
“We cannot hold democracy hostage to Russia,” Fedorov, who was abruptly sacked last month as part of a government reshuffle, said on Tuesday, according to a Reuters translation.
“We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism to allow Ukraine to resume a full democratic process even in conditions of prolonged war,” Fedorov said.
His comments, which did not mention Zelenskiy by name, were conveyed in a more than nine-minute video posted on YouTube. Ukrainian law currently prohibits holding elections during wartime.
Mr. Fedorov, a former ally of Mr. Zelensky, is widely known as a popular figure in Ukraine. When he was dismissed in late July after about six months in office, protests erupted in major cities across the country.
The 35-year-old advocate of drone warfare in the country is credited with revitalizing the Ministry of Defense and spearheading the fight against corruption.
Mr. Fedorov’s statement came just hours after Mr. Zelensky admitted on Wednesday that he had asked parliament to confirm Evhen Kumara as Ukraine’s new defense minister, effectively closing the door to Mr. Fedorov’s return.
Fedorov said Ukraine was facing a “systemic crisis of governance” and, although he did not name the MPs, he blamed official corruption that was hurting the country’s war effort.
Zelenskyy has not yet responded to Fedorov’s video statement. CNBC has reached out to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment and is awaiting a response.
