Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has publicly called for elections to be held while the country remains in war, breaking a long‑held taboo that Kyiv had avoided. The call follows his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky and comes amid growing debate over the legitimacy of the current administration as the five‑year term ends.
In a video posted on Tuesday, Fedorov urged a “safe and realistic mechanism” to protect the voting rights of soldiers, Ukrainians abroad and those in front‑line regions. Earlier this month, Zelensky’s chief of staff and security advisers met at a Kyiv compound and discussed holding elections in September or October, but the president ultimately rejected the idea.
The proposal challenges Zelensky’s wartime legitimacy, which he has defended by citing higher‑than‑expected poll support. It also risks fragmenting Ukraine’s broad consensus to postpone elections until a ceasefire, a stance that has historically underpinned national unity and stability during the ongoing conflict.
Whether a constitutional workaround exists is disputed; the Ukrainian constitution forbids amendments during martial law and extends parliamentary powers until the end of the emergency. Practical concerns include the feasibility of voting in occupied or front‑line areas, the risk of disenfranchising millions, and the possibility that the move could be used by Moscow to justify a peace settlement.