Ex-defence minister calls for elections in Ukraine

A profound political rift has opened in Kyiv as Ukraine's recently ousted defence minister launched a direct public challenge against President Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding that the country stage wartime elections.

Mykhailo Fedorov published a dramatic video address on YouTube, arguing that democratic processes must be restored despite the ongoing conflict. According to reporting by Yahoo News, Mr Fedorov stated in his video address that democracy cannot be held hostage by foreign aggression, claiming his country has been suffering from a systemic crisis of governance.

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"We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process, even amidst a prolonged war."

Mykhailo Fedorov, ousted defence minister, via Yahoo News

The former minister, once a staunch ally of Mr Zelensky, said corruption in Kyiv had been harming its war effort, and claimed that the old system lives by its own rules too often, protects itself, and is scared of change. The push for a ballot marks a major escalation in a domestic power struggle that has intensified since Mr Fedorov was removed from office. According to reporting by Yahoo News, Mr Zelensky declared martial law shortly after the war began, suspending national votes for security reasons. While the Ukrainian constitution explicitly bars elections during martial law and automatically extends governmental powers until the emergency lapses, critics maintain that the leadership has remained in power for too long.

The conflict traces back to Mr Fedorov's tenure and subsequent dismissal, which triggered widespread public outcry and street demonstrations in Kyiv. Reporting highlights that Mr Fedorov's trust rating surged following his removal, eclipsing the standing of Mr Zelensky. Analysts note that his association with military drone innovation and institutional reforms makes the younger politician a formidable potential challenger should the electorate ever return to the polling stations.

The political maneuvering spilled directly into the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, as lawmakers considered the nomination of Maj Gen Yevhen Khmara to take over the defence portfolio. According to Tass, citing reporting from the outlet Strana, Mr Fedorov and his allies made substantial efforts to derail the parliamentary vote on Mr Khmara. The appointment of the former security service official signaled the failure of an initial plan by Mr Fedorov's support group to reinstate him as top defense official—a maneuver intended to strip the army and parliament from Mr Zelensky's direct control.

Despite parliamentary hurdles and opposition from lawmakers refusing to back the nominee out of loyalty to the ousted minister, Mr Zelensky ultimately demonstrated that he retains control over the legislature. Yet the political fallout remains severe. Anti-corruption agencies including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have launched operations targeting presidential aides and supportive lawmakers, tools that Strana reports may be leveraged by the former minister's camp to apply pressure on the administration.

Additional international pressures compound the domestic turbulence. Financial Times reporting cited by Yahoo News notes broader geopolitical anxieties as regional conflicts disrupt oil routes and raise the prospect of wider escalations involving European targets. Meanwhile, European actors maintain significant leverage in Kyiv through institutional oversight of anti-corruption bodies.

President Zelensky has consistently rejected holding a national vote during wartime, a stance reinforced by practical obstacles such as Russian air raids and the occupation of nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Whether growing public momentum and pressure from anti-corruption investigations can force a shift in the administration's timeline remains uncertain.

What to watch next

• Parliamentary developments surrounding ministerial staff and department appointments following the recent leadership votes in the Verkhovna Rada.
• Further public demonstrations led by veterans and civil groups in Kyiv regarding governmental accountability.
• Potential actions by anti-corruption agencies involving high-ranking figures within the ruling political party.

For related international developments, see World coverage.