Call for wartime elections in Ukraine piles pressure on Zelensky

Ukraine's former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has reportedly called for wartime presidential elections, marking the most significant political challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post in July 2026, argued in a video address on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, that Ukraine must "restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war" and that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." This appeal comes despite Ukrainian law prohibiting elections under martial law, which has been in effect since February 2022.

Fedorov's unexpected dismissal from the Defense Ministry after a six-month tenure had previously sparked public protests. In his recent address, he criticized a "systemic crisis of governance" and alluded to corruption, suggesting that personal loyalty was being prioritized over professional competence in government appointments, though he did not name Zelenskyy directly. His call for elections was made hours after President Zelenskyy nominated a new defense minister, Yevhen Khmara.

President Zelenskyy's five-year term concluded in May 2024. While he has previously expressed that holding elections during active conflict is challenging and logistically unfeasible, he has also indicated a willingness to consider them if international partners, particularly the U.S. and EU, could ensure necessary security and financial support, and if legal changes were enacted. Public sentiment in Ukraine has generally leaned against conducting elections while the war persists.