Ousted Ukraine defense minister urges wartime elections, warning of a governance crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called for elections to be held during the ongoing war against Russia, citing a crisis of governance. Fedorov, who was ousted in July, made the call in a video address posted on YouTube. He argued that the country needs a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism to restore a full democratic process.

The move by Fedorov, one of Zelenskyy's most loyal team members, could pose a significant internal challenge for the Ukrainian leader. Ukrainian law prohibits elections while the country is under martial law, which has been in place since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. However, Fedorov contends that the current governance system is oriented towards protecting itself and resisting change.

He also criticized corruption among officials, stating that it has weakened Ukraine's capacity to fight the war. Fedorov believes that corruption in wartime is not just a financial issue, but a matter of the country's capability to survive and win. His call for elections came after protests in support of his reinstatement in Kyiv, which have since dwindled but still draw large crowds during weekend marches.