Former Defence Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov has published a video address. He said Ukraine is facing a governance crisis and that corruption poses a particularly serious threat amid the war. The former minister believes the country needs to answer the question of how the state should function if the war continues for years and, if it does, “whether Russia can effectively be given the right to decide when Ukrainians will once again be able to elect their government”.
In effect, he called for elections to be held during the war. “It is difficult,” Fedorov said, as this would require ensuring voting rights for military personnel and Ukrainians abroad, as well as the independence of electoral institutions and trust in the result.
However, he believes it is not impossible. Fedorov said the Verkhovna Rada should be governed by values and principles rather than private interests in the defence, pharmaceutical and gambling sectors. Footage of Servant of the People faction leader David Arakhamia was shown alongside these remarks.
“If you have been given authority, take responsibility for the result; if you have been given a budget, show what has been done. If you have been given a position, explain what results you have achieved,” he said.
Fedorov believes Ukraine needs a new social contract and must not allow the old system to take away Ukrainians’ hope.
“Ukraine can fight a war and remain a democracy at the same time. Elections are not just about a ballot. They are the moment when the government once again comes to the citizen and says: ‘This is what we have achieved; now you decide whether you trust us to continue.’ And that is precisely what distinguishes a democratic state from one where those in power decide when society is allowed to hold them to account,” he said.
The former minister added that Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to decide when Ukrainians can elect their government.
The address was published on the same day that the president nominated Yevheniy Khmara for the post of Defence Minister.
Context
In July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unexpectedly announced plans to reshuffle the government. Serhiy Koretskyy, who had headed Naftogaz, replaced Yuliya Svyrydenko as prime minister. The president said Koretskyy was the best prepared candidate to lead the government as Ukraine faced an extremely difficult winter. Several ministers retained their posts in the new government, but Defence Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov did not. After seven months in office, the president decided not to nominate him for reappointment.
Initially, according to sources cited by LB.ua and other media outlets, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko was considered for the defence minister post. Amid protests, however, Klymenko was not nominated. The president decided that General Yevheniy Khmara, head of the SBU’s Alfa Special Operations Centre, would serve as acting defence minister. Khmara had previously served as acting head of the SBU, and the government later appointed him acting Defence Minister. For a full appointment, he would have to be discharged from military service.
Klymenko ultimately did not receive another government position and became Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.
Zelenskyy held several talks with Fedorov. The president also held numerous consultations with brigade commanders and force commanders. Protests calling for Fedorov’s return to the Defence Ministry have been taking place in Ukrainian cities since 16 July.
The president has not publicly given a precise reason for replacing the defence minister, but said there had been a conflict between the Defence Ministry and the army leadership that prevented them from establishing effective cooperation. Fedorov himself accused Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyy of issuing an ultimatum demanding his dismissal. The former minister said he had instead proposed that the president replace the commander-in-chief and the Chief of the General Staff.
The Armed Forces received a new Commander-in-Chief, Mykhaylo Drapatyy. The Chief of the General Staff was also replaced. Zelenskyy offered Fedorov various positions, from adviser to deputy prime minister for military innovation. However, he said he would accept only the post of Defence Minister.
At the beginning of August, Fedorov said he had not received a clear “no” from the president regarding the possibility of his reappointment. He added that he had set 17–18 August — the date when parliament was due to return to work after a month-long recess — as the deadline for further career decisions.
Today, the Verkhovna Rada resumed plenary sessions, while the president nominated Yevheniy Khmara for appointment as Defence Minister.
Elections during wartime
The possibility of holding elections before the end of martial law has been raised several times, including at the initiative of the United States. Elections cannot currently be held under martial law under Ukrainian law, but the relevant legislation could be amended because the issue does not concern the Constitution. Ukraine has stressed that it is ready to hold elections provided there is a ceasefire, as security is the main concern. The issue of voting by Ukrainians who have left the country and by military personnel would also have to be resolved.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to hold a presidential election if there were a two-month ceasefire. He addressed the issue after US partners raised the need for elections in Ukraine: “If we can get two months of a ceasefire for elections, I will do everything possible to speak with parliament and push it towards a path that it does not support and that even people do not support — holding elections during the war. Because a two-month ceasefire is not the end of the war.”
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko expressed a similar view, saying that elections would not be possible during a short-term truce.