Ukraine's former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has challenged President Volodymyr Zelensky by calling for wartime elections in a video address shared on YouTube. Fedorov, 35, claims that Ukraine is experiencing a "systemic crisis of governance" and that the country must hold democratic elections even during the ongoing war with Russia. A recent poll suggests that Fedorov would comfortably defeat Zelensky if they were to run against each other in an election. This is not the first time Fedorov has criticized the government, as he was fired as defence minister in July and has since publicly condemned corruption in the military and government.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office is being investigated for corruption by Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies, who are probing a criminal organization allegedly led by a sitting and former lawmaker, involving senior officials from the presidential office and other individuals. This comes a day after Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's recently fired defense minister, called for national elections in a video address posted to YouTube, despite the ongoing war with Russia. Fedorov's ouster had sparked weeks of protests across the country, criticizing the removal of the widely respected minister. The investigation is an unwelcome distraction for Zelenskyy as Ukraine's war with its bigger neighbor extends into its fifth year.
Fedorov, 35, who was credited with turning the tide of the war in Ukraine, had helped design the country's strategy to bring an end to the conflict by using drones and robots. His removal had sent thousands of protesters onto the streets in rare wartime protests demanding that Zelenskyy reinstate him.
The investigation into Zelenskyy's office is being conducted by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, who are conducting an operation to expose a criminal organization allegedly led by a sitting and former lawmaker. Further details would be released later, according to their joint statement.
Zelenskyy made no public comment on the investigation but issued a decree dismissing Iryna Mudra from the position of deputy head of the president's office. The investigation is seen as a significant development in Ukraine's ongoing battle against corruption and comes at a time when Zelenskyy is facing pressure to hold wartime elections, which are prohibited during martial law under Ukraine's constitution.
Fedorov had called for a "legal, safe and realistic mechanism" that would allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war. His statement was seen as a direct challenge to Zelenskyy, who has refused to hold elections in wartime, citing the need for a ceasefire with Russia and necessary security guarantees.
The situation is complex and politically charged, with some observers saying that elections are not feasible at this moment, while others argue that Ukraine needs democratic reforms to continue its fight against corruption and Russian aggression.
Written for “Ukraine Ongoing Government Crisis” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 14 other(s) covering the same event.
Ukraine’s former defence minister has called for wartime elections in a direct challenge to president Volodymyr Zelensky.
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minister → call → Zelensky
Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, whose ouster as defence chief in July triggered major protests in the country, issued the call in a video address shared on YouTube.
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ouster → trigger → YouTube
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia.
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Democracy → hold → Russia
We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war," he said.
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he → find → war
Mr Zelensky has refused to hold elections in wartime, saying a vote can only be held once a ceasefire is agreed with Russia and Ukraine has “necessary security guarantees” in place.
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Ukraine → refuse → place
In an open challenge to the president, Mr Fedorov said Ukraine faced a "systemic crisis of governance”.
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Ukraine → say → governance
"The old system lives by its own rules too often.
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system → live → rules
It protects itself.
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It → protect → itself
It is scared of change," he said.
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he → say → change
Mr Fedorov’s remarks came just hours after Mr Zelensky said he had asked the parliament to confirm Yevhenii Khmara as the new defence minister on Wednesday.
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he → come → Wednesday
While Mr Fedorov didn’t mention if he would compete in any election, a recent poll indicated that the former minister would comfortably beat the president if they went head-to-head.
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they → mention → head
"Our people have long been ready for a different country," Mr Fedorov said in his address.
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Fedorov → say → address
"Now, our state must become worthy of its people."
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state → become → people
Without naming names, Mr Fedorov also condemned corruption in government, which he said had hurt Ukraine's war effort.
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he → name → effort
Mr Fedorov was regarded as an ally of Mr Zelensky until his unexpected firing in July.
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Fedorov → regard → July
He had taken over just six months earlier, vowing sweeping reforms.
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He → take → reforms
Shortly after his dismissal, he publicly tore into the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, exposing a bitter rift between the men and their visions for conducting the war.
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he → tear → war
Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets to demand the sacking of General Syrskyi, who was blamed by his critics for heavy troop losses on the frontline, and Mr Fedorov's reinstatement.
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who → take → frontline
Although Mr Zelensky said he had dismissed Mr Fedorov because of his inability to work with General Syrskyi, the president also fired his military chief shortly afterwards due to mounting public pressure.
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president → say → pressure
The former minister recently said he believed his reforms of the defence ministry's procurement processes, responsible for purchasing billions of dollars of equipment, contributed to his sacking.
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reforms → say → sacking
Protests in support of Mr Fedorov have continued for the past month, losing some of their early momentum but still regularly drawing a couple thousand attendees in Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky’s office is yet to comment on the address given by the former defence minister.
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office → continue → minister
Mr Fedorov became the youngest minister in Ukraine's history when he was made the digitalisation chief at the age of 28.
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he → become → 28
He spent six years in that post.
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He → spend → post
He was the last remaining member of Mr Zelensky's first cabinet from 2019.
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He → remain → 2019
His role running the digital transformation ministry saw him become an early adopter of drone warfare, which would turn combat in Ukraine on its head following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
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which → run → 2022
His nationwide profile grew after his appointment to run the defence ministry in January, immediately vowing a data-driven overhaul.
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profile → grow → overhaul
Unlike his predecessors, Mr Fedorov publicly laid out a strategy to defeat Russia through attrition and technological superiority.
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Fedorov → lay → attrition
