Ousted Ukraine defence minister urges wartime elections amid corruption claims

Mykhailo Fedorov (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Ukraine’s ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections to be held even as the war against Russia continues, saying the country is gripped by a crisis of governance.

The move by a man who was until recently one of Volodymyr Zelensky’s most loyal and longstanding team members could become the most significant internal challenge the president has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The appeal came in a video address posted to YouTube by Mr Fedorov, who lost his post in July.

“We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war,” he said.

Mr Zelensky’s office did not immediately comment on the address.

Ukrainian law prohibits elections while the country is under martial law, which was imposed on February 24 2022, the day the Russian invasion began.

Mr Fedorov said the country is facing a systemic crisis in how it is governed, arguing the system is oriented towards protecting itself and resisting change.

He also condemned corruption among officials – without naming anyone – saying it had weakened Ukraine’s ability to fight the war.

Mr Fedorov has claimed a factor in his removal was an overhaul he led of the Defence Ministry’s procurement system, which oversees billions of dollars in equipment purchases.

“Corruption in wartime is not merely a financial issue. It is a matter of our capability to survive and win,” he said. “Every single hryvnia intended for defence must work for defence. Not for a private pocket.”

Mr Fedorov released the address hours after Ukraine’s parliament received a submission from Mr Zelensky nominating Yevhenii Khmara to be the new defence minister.

Large crowds of protesters have taken to the streets of Kyiv in support of Mr Fedorov over the past month after his abrupt dismissal.

The demonstrations have lost some of their initial force but still draw crowds of thousands during weekend marches, with demonstrators carrying handmade signs demanding Mr Zelensky reinstate Mr Fedorov.