Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls from former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to hold elections during the Russian invasion, stating that it would be a "huge risk" for the country and potentially lead to its division. In response to Fedorov's proposal, which was made after his dismissal as defense minister, Zelenskyy said holding elections now would be equivalent to wanting to "destroy the country". According to a recent poll, if an election were held, Zelenskyy would still have more public support than Fedorov. The Ukrainian president also announced agreements with Germany and France for the supply of missile interceptors to counter Russia's attacks.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
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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.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 2047 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that holding elections in his country amid the full-scale Russian invasion would be highly dangerous, in remarks made in response to a call from the former defense minister to organize a vote.
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holding → say → vote
"I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk.
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elections → believe → this
Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in remarks released on Sunday.
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Zelenskyy → split → Sunday
Under martial law, elections are currently suspended in the country as it fights the invading Russian forces.
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it → suspend → forces
The measure has wide public support.
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measure → have → support
What did Zelenskyy say about the proposed election?
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Zelenskyy → say → election
"If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war," Zelenskyy said in the firm rejection of the proposal by former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
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Zelenskyy → want → Fedorov
Fedorov made the call a month after being fired by Zelenskyy as defense minister.
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Fedorov → make → minister
Fedorov enjoys significant support among younger Ukrainians, thousands of whom have been calling for his reinstatement, with some saying he could seek to challenge Zelenskyy if an election did take place.
However, a recent poll showed that Zelenskyy would still be more popular as a presidential candidate.
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Zelenskyy → enjoy → candidate
Zelenskyy was critical of Fedorov in his remarks, saying: "I believe he is going himself — or is being pushed — toward wrong things."
Russia planning mass mobilization — Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy also said that Kyiv believed Russia was planning to mobilize 300,000 more troops for its invasion after parliamentary elections take place in September.
He added that Moscow might draft hundreds of thousands more in 2027 as it seeks to capture the rest of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, one of its main strategic goals.
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it → say → goals
Agreement on missile interceptors from Germany
As Ukraine continues to come under intense missile attacks from its neighbor, Zelenskyy also spoke of having struck an agreement with Germany on the supply of 600 Patriot PAC-2
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Zelenskyy → continue → Patriot
The announcement comes after German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Ukraine on Saturday.
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Wadephul → come → Saturday
The US Patriots are the only weapon in Kyiv's arsenal that can take on Russia's Iskander-M and Kinzhal ballistic missiles, but ammunition for the system is running short.
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ammunition → take → system
France on Saturday also promised to deliver new interceptor missiles.
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France → promise → missiles
As Europe seeks to fill the gap left by a US that, under Donald Trump, has shown ever more reluctance to help Ukraine, Norway has also said it plans to give another 85 billion Norwegian crowns ($9.2 billion; €7.8 billion) in financial support to Kyiv in the 2027 fiscal year.
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it → seek → year
Edited by: Natalie Muller
Don't let the algorithm hide the news.
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algorithm → edit → news
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you → rely → news
