Ukrainians marched for a month to get Mykhailo Fedorov his job back as defense minister. Then he released a video calling for elections, and the crowds stopped coming.

In mid-August, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov released a video address on his YouTube channel, titled "Address to the People." This was the day prior to Yevhen Khmara assuming the role of Defense Minister and followed a month of protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities demanding Fedorov's reinstatement. The video, which marked the first post on his newly created YouTube channel, addressed a highly sensitive topic in Ukraine - the idea of holding elections during the war.

Fedorov argued that Russia had effectively obtained the authority to determine when Ukrainians could once again choose their government. He emphasized that democracy could not be held hostage by Russia and that Ukraine should explore a legal, safe, and realistic method to resume a fully functional democratic process throughout the prolonged conflict.

Although he didn't specify whether he meant presidential or parliamentary elections, there is a general consensus in Ukrainian society that presidential elections should be postponed until the war ends.

The video sparked controversy, as many Ukrainians, including Fedorov's own supporters, viewed his statements as a misstep and harshly criticized him. Zelensky has also dismissed holding elections during the war, stating it would be a "tsunami that would split Ukraine apart." A source close to the Ukrainian President's Office revealed that Fedorov's ratings had risen significantly enough to potentially become a strong rival to Zelensky and Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander in chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces.