Ukraine’s former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections to be held despite the ongoing war with Russia, in what is being described as one of the biggest internal political challenges to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Fedorov made the appeal in a video address, arguing that democracy should not be held hostage by the war. He called for Ukraine to develop a “legal, safe and realistic” way to restore the country’s full democratic process even while the conflict continues.
Under Ukraine’s current martial law, elections cannot be held. Zelenskyy’s presidential term formally ended in May 2024, but the election was postponed because of the war and the continuation of martial law.
Fedorov, 35, was dismissed as defence minister in July after tensions with military leadership. His removal triggered protests in several Ukrainian cities, and his latest call for elections has further increased political pressure on Zelenskyy.
Fedorov also accused Ukraine of facing a “systemic crisis of governance” and raised concerns about corruption and resistance to reforms. He has not said whether he would personally run for president if elections are held.
The main challenge is practical as well as political: holding a fair election during an active war would require arrangements for soldiers, people living near the front lines, displaced Ukrainians and millions who have fled the country.