Trouble brewing for Zelenskyy? Ex-defence minister calls for wartime polls

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022

Ukraine’s recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for presidential elections to be held despite the ongoing war with Russia, delivering one of the most direct political challenges to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.In a nine-minute video address posted online, Fedorov argued that Ukraine must restore a “full democratic process” even while fighting Russia. “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state,” the 35-year-old said. Although he did not name Zelenskyy, his remarks amounted to a sharp criticism of the way the country is being governed, including concerns over corruption, appointments and a lack of accountability.Fedorov’s intervention comes weeks after Zelenskyy abruptly removed him as defence minister, only six months after his appointment. His dismissal triggered rare wartime protests in Kyiv and has fuelled speculation about growing tensions within Ukraine’s political establishment. Zelenskyy has not publicly responded to the call for elections.Why Fedorov’s election call mattersUkraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and elections are suspended under the country’s legal framework. Zelenskyy’s five-year presidential term formally expired in May 2024, but the continuation of martial law has prevented a vote from taking place.Fedorov argued that the prolonged war should not permanently put democratic politics on hold. “We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war,” he said.The appeal could prove politically significant because Fedorov is not an outsider. A former digital minister and one of the prominent young reformers in Zelenskyy’s team, he played a key role in Ukraine’s wartime adoption of drone technology and other innovations. His sudden removal, reportedly amid tensions with military leadership, had already exposed divisions within the government.Recent polling cited in the material suggests Fedorov could emerge as a serious contender in a future presidential race. He was placed behind Zelenskyy and former armed forces chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi in a first-round scenario, but polling indicated that both Fedorov and Zaluzhnyi could defeat Zelenskyy in a run-off.Why a wartime election would be extremely difficultHolding an election while the war continues would present enormous logistical and security challenges. Russian missile and drone attacks regularly target Ukrainian cities, while fighting stretches across a front line of more than 1,200km.Millions of Ukrainians have also been displaced. More than 4 million are living under temporary protection in the European Union, while millions more are internally displaced. Around 1 million people are serving in Ukraine’s defence forces, including personnel deployed near the frontline.The situation is further complicated by Russian occupation of roughly a fifth of Ukraine. Ensuring voting rights for people in occupied areas, protecting polling stations and preventing Russian interference would all require new legal and security arrangements.A Ukrainian political analyst cited in the material said there was a deep-rooted view that elections were necessary, but only after the “hot phase” of the war ended. Even Fedorov’s supporters face the question of how a genuinely free and safe vote could be organised while Russian attacks continue.Zelenskyy faces a wider political testFedorov’s intervention comes as Zelenskyy faces renewed scrutiny over corruption and the functioning of his administration. Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have launched a probe involving current and former officials, including an unnamed official in the presidential office. Zelenskyy subsequently dismissed deputy presidential office head Iryna Mudra, although investigators have not named her as a suspect.The developments add to political pressure on a president whose popularity, while still significant, has fallen from its extraordinary wartime levels. The latest controversy also follows previous public anger over government attempts to curb the powers of anti-corruption agencies.