Fedorov Pushes Wartime Elections as Khmara Appointed

Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who Zelensky dismissed last month, released a nine-minute YouTube address calling for wartime elections and the restoration of democracy amid governance concerns and corruption. He argued that democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia and urged finding a legal, safe mechanism to renew Ukraine’s democracy even during ongoing fighting. The move represents a clear internal challenge to Zelensky’s leadership and has coincided with protests in support of Fedorov and renewed tensions with the military leadership. Zelensky has moved ahead with a new defence minister appointment, Yevhenii Khmara, and Fedorov did not explicitly state his electoral intentions. Several outlets noted polls showing Fedorov beating Zelensky in a hypothetical race, underscoring potential political implications of his call, while the wartime legality and security guarantees remain central to the debate.