Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's popular former defence minister sacked in July 2026, called for wartime presidential elections on 19 August, arguing the nation faced a governance crisis. His video address came hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy nominated Yevhen Khmara as his replacement, formally ending speculation of Fedorov's return.
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Fedorov's video address came just hours after Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally nominated Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, closing the door on Fedorov’s return to government.
Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections on Tuesday evening, stating that the nation was facing a crisis of governance. Fedorov was dismissed last month, sparking days of protests across Ukraine. It is the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 that a Ukrainian political figure demands presidential elections.
Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sacked last month, on Tuesday called for a move towards elections that have been put off because of the Russian invasion. Ukraine imposed martial law when Russian forces swept over the border in February 2022, and military rule prohibits holding elections.
Martial law has been in place in Ukraine since February 2022, under which elections are suspended.
Ukraine's lawmakers approved the country's new defence minister on Wednesday, a month after a reshuffle that triggered a public backlash after the dismissal of his popular predecessor Mykhailo Fedorov. The decision comes a day after Fedorov in a video statement called for a move towards elections that have been put off because of the Russian invasion. FRANCE 24's Emmanuelle Chaze reports from Kyiv