Ex-Defence Minister Fedorov Says He Will Decide on Elections Once Preparations Begin

Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview with 24 Kanal that he is not currently backing any particular politician or party, though he opposes the old political system and corruption. He explained that a recent video address of his, widely interpreted as the launch of a political campaign, was actually about principles and values and the need to restore Ukraine's democratic process.

Fedorov said he will decide the exact form of his involvement in elections — whether backing a candidate, running independently, or staying out entirely — only once the country reaches the actual preparation stage for holding elections. For now, he said, the priority is ensuring the process is fair and not skewed toward any single candidate or party.

Preparations already underway

He recalled that in December 2025 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed parliament to develop mechanisms for holding elections during wartime. Over six months, a group of lawmakers working with experts drafted 60-70% of the necessary legislation and worked out specific mechanisms for different categories of voters.

Voting proposals

On voting by Ukrainians abroad, Fedorov proposed using online pre-registration tools to determine how many polling stations would be needed in each country and how long voting should last. He suggested voting could take place over several days rather than a single day, similar to early voting practices in the United States.

Regarding military personnel, Fedorov noted that around half are not stationed in frontline areas and could vote at regular polling stations. He pointed to cities such as Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Dnipro, where military groupings are based and underground schools and government offices already operate, suggesting voting could be organized there too if spread across several days.

On 18 August, Fedorov had urged Ukraine not to let Russia dictate when Ukrainians would next be able to elect their government. Reports indicated the President's Office viewed his push for elections as unrealistic, though Fedorov's team said his call was not for immediate elections but for thorough preparation of the process.