Zelensky’s office calls former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s demand for wartime elections unrealistic

A source within the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office dismissed the notion of conducting elections during the ongoing war, in response to a video address by Mykhailo Fedorov, the country's former defense minister. The source described the idea of holding elections "amid missiles and drones as highly bizarre," emphasizing that it demonstrated a "complete lack of realism."

As of the current report, Zelensky has not yet addressed Fedorov's call for wartime elections. Fedorov, who was appointed as the defense minister in January 2026, was dismissed by Zelensky in July due to a disagreement with Oleksandr Syrskyi, the then commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces. This move sparked protests in Ukraine, leading to Syrskyi's subsequent dismissal.

Yevhenii Khmara, who previously headed Ukraine's Security Service, has since assumed the role of defense minister. Meduza, the news outlet responsible for this story, adheres to strict editorial standards and ensures all translations are accurate and timely.