Ousted Ukrainian ex-defense minister Fedorov: Russia must not decide when elections happen

Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for the country to establish a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" that would allow it to resume a fully functioning democratic process even while the war continues.

In a video address, Fedorov argued that if the war were to drag on for another year, two, or three, it would be unacceptable for Russia to effectively gain the power to decide when Ukrainians can once again choose their government. He said democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia, stressing that Ukraine is fighting precisely to remain a free European state.

Difficulty is not impossibility

Fedorov acknowledged that holding elections during wartime would be complicated, since voting rights would need to be guaranteed for military service members, millions of Ukrainians living abroad, and residents of frontline regions. Still, he said difficulty does not equal impossibility, pointing out that Ukraine has repeatedly achieved things the world once considered impossible. He argued a solution could likewise be found here, since democracy is not merely a peacetime luxury but part of what the country is currently fighting for.

Dismissal and ongoing protests

Fedorov had served as defense minister since January 2026. President Volodymyr Zelensky removed him from the post in July, reportedly due to a clash with the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The dismissal triggered street protests, and Syrskyi himself was dismissed shortly afterward. Protests demanding Fedorov's reinstatement are still ongoing.