Sacked Ukrainian defence minister calls for presidential election

Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged for presidential elections, a move seen as a significant challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership since the war with Russia began in February 2022. In a YouTube video, Fedorov, 35, argued that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia" and emphasized that Ukraine is fighting to remain a free European state.

Since the Russian invasion, Ukraine has been under martial law, suspending elections. Fedorov was abruptly removed from his post in late July, six months after his appointment, amid tensions with army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was also dismissed a few weeks later due to widespread protests. Fedorov did not comment on his future political plans in the video but stressed the need for a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even amidst a prolonged war."

He highlighted the "systemic crisis of governance" Ukraine faces and expressed fear of change, particularly corruption, which he believes hampers the country's war efforts. Following his dismissal, Zelensky appointed Yevgeniy Khmara, a career intelligence official with limited political experience, as acting defense minister. Fedorov's dismissal triggered protests nationwide.

Previously, Fedorov was credited with revitalizing the defense ministry, combating corruption, and leveraging data to enhance frontline performance. His dismissal is believed to be linked to conflicts with Syrskyi. The defense minister showcased achievements such as launching a cybersecurity initiative against Russia and spearheading a fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones, which employed gamification to bolster military units.

He also proposed diplomatic efforts, including reaching out to SpaceX founder Elon Musk to prevent Russia from using Starlink satellites for drone attacks, which reportedly hampered Russia's military operations.