Ousted Ukraine defence minister challenges Zelensky's leadership

Kyiv, Reuters — Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has declared the need for wartime elections in a dramatic televised speech on Tuesday, alleging the country is experiencing a governance crisis, marking the most significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

Fedorov's impassioned call, broadcast via YouTube video, marks the first such demand from a prominent Ukrainian political figure since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion. Ukrainian law strictly prohibits elections during wartime. Fedorov, a 35-year-old ally of Zelensky, was unexpectedly removed from his post in the Defense Ministry in July, just six months after his appointment, vowing to enact sweeping reforms.

Following his dismissal, Fedorov criticized the head of the armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, sparking a bitter rift and prompting protests demanding his reinstatement and the removal of Syrskyi. Despite President Zelensky's assertion that he had sacked Fedorov due to his inability to collaborate with Syrskyi, the president had Syrskyi removed shortly afterwards under public pressure.

Protests supporting Fedorov have remained ongoing for the past month, though their initial fervor has waned, yet they still attract a few thousand participants in Kyiv. While Fedorov did not explicitly state his intention to run in an election in his address, a recent poll suggested he would likely defeat Zelensky in a second round runoff, where the two highest-polling presidential candidates face off.

Fedorov's statement came shortly after Zelensky announced he had approved the appointment of new Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. The move appeared to be an open challenge to Zelensky, highlighting the political turmoil gripping Ukraine. Fedorov's speech did not name any specific adversaries, but he harshly criticized official corruption, which he believed had undermined Ukraine's war efforts.

Previously, Fedorov had claimed his reforms to the Defense Ministry's procurement processes, which handled the purchase of billions of dollars worth of equipment, led to his firing. Zelensky's office has yet to provide an official response to Fedorov's televised address.