Ukraine’s former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for the country to find a way to hold elections despite the ongoing Russian invasion, warning that Ukraine faces a “systemic crisis of governance.”
In a video address released on Youtube on Tuesday (August 18), Fedorov argued that the war should not indefinitely suspend Ukraine’s democratic process. “Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” he said, calling for a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” to restore elections during a prolonged conflict. He stressed, however, the practical difficulties of organising a vote, including ensuring participation by military personnel, millions of Ukrainians living abroad and residents of frontline areas, while guaranteeing security and trust in the result.
Accordingly, Fedorov did not demand an immediate election or set a timetable. Instead, he argued that Ukraine should begin developing a mechanism that would allow citizens to assess those in power and determine whether they continued to deserve public trust. “Democracy is not a peacetime luxury,” he said. “Democracy is part of what we are fighting for today.”
His intervention came hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally nominated acting Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara as his permanent successor, effectively ending speculation about Fedorov’s possible return to the ministry. Fedorov had reportedly rejected several senior government positions after his dismissal, including deputy prime minister roles, insisting that he would return only as defence minister. Parliament was expected to vote on Khmara’s appointment on August 19.
Fedorov was dismissed in July after only six months as defence minister, following a dispute with then military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. His removal triggered protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators calling for his reinstatement. Syrskyi was subsequently dismissed by Zelenskyy.
In his address, Fedorov criticised governmental corruption and linked political accountability directly to Ukraine’s ability to sustain the war effort. He warned that the misuse of public resources and bureaucratic failures could ultimately cost lives and undermine the country’s capacity to “survive and win.”
He also described a lack of transparency, arguing that the public’s trust in the government did not give those in power the right to act without explanation. “A credit of trust is not the right to do everything without explanation,” he said. “It is an obligation to be even more honest with society.”
Ukraine has not held national elections since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Under martial law, elections are currently prohibited, and holding a nationwide vote would present major security and logistical challenges.
Although Fedorov did not announce plans to run for office, his appeal marked the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 that a major Ukrainian political figure had publicly called for presidential elections during the war.
Source: commonspace.eu with Euronews (Paris), France24 (Issy-les-Moulineaux) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Prague).
