Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s ousted defense minister, has called for the establishment of a mechanism to hold elections during wartime. In a video posted on YouTube, he said: “Democracy must not be held hostage by Russia. This is precisely why we are fighting to remain a free European country.”
Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, a situation that, under Ukrainian law, suspends elections until martial law is lifted.
Fedorov, who did not mention President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by name in his video, was unexpectedly dismissed as defense minister in late July, just six months after taking office. The decision sparked protests in parts of Ukraine. Zelenskyy has so far not responded to Fedorov’s latest remarks.
Fedorov’s dismissal has been widely attributed to tensions between him and Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces. Syrskyi himself was dismissed several weeks later following mounting political pressure and street protests.
In the video, Fedorov did not provide further details about his personal political plans, but stressed the need to establish “a legal, secure and realistic mechanism” that would allow Ukraine to restore its full democratic process even in the event of a prolonged war.
He also spoke of a “systemic crisis in governance,” identifying fear of change and financial corruption as factors undermining Ukraine’s war effort.
During his tenure as defense minister, Fedorov became particularly known for his focus on combating corruption, digitalization, and the use of data to improve the performance of Ukrainian forces on the front lines. He previously served as minister of digital transformation and, in the early days of the war, established Ukraine’s “IT Army.”
He also played a role in launching and overseeing the “Army of Drones” initiative. More recently, he called on Elon Musk to prevent Russian forces from using Starlink satellites in drone operations an issue that, according to Ukrainian officials, could affect the course of Russia’s military operations.
Following Fedorov’s dismissal, Zelenskyy appointed Yevhen Khmara, a senior intelligence official, as acting defense minister. Although Fedorov has been offered other positions, including deputy prime minister for military innovation, he has said he would only continue serving in government if he were reinstated as defense minister.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
