Ousted Ukraine defense chief Fedorov calls for wartime elections in challenge to Zelensky

Ousted Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a video address on Tuesday, challenging President Zelensky. He cited a 'systemic crisis of governance' and argued democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. Fedorov did not announce his candidacy, but a recent poll suggests he would beat Zelensky in a runoff. The call came hours after Zelensky asked parliament to confirm a new defense minister.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's recently ousted defense minister, delivered a video address on Tuesday evening calling for wartime elections, presenting the most significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since 2022. Fedorov argued that the nation faces a 'systemic crisis of governance' and that 'democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,' urging the creation of a legal and safe mechanism to renew democratic processes during the war. He did not state whether he would run for office, though a recent poll indicated he would comfortably beat Zelensky in a runoff. The address came hours after Zelensky asked parliament to confirm Yevhenii Khmara as the new defense minister. Fedorov, a longtime Zelensky ally, was fired in July after six months in the role, having publicly clashed with military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Protests supporting Fedorov have continued for a month, drawing a couple thousand attendees in Kyiv. Fedorov also criticized official corruption, which he said hurts the war effort.