By Jasmin Rao
August 20, 2026 | 8:10 PM IST
America News World
Ukraine’s political debate has entered a sensitive new phase after former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for a presidential election despite the country remaining at war with Russia.
Fedorov, a 35-year-old technocrat who became prominent during the conflict, said Ukraine must confront how its political system should function when a war continues for years. His intervention has increased pressure on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who dismissed Fedorov from the defence ministry in July.
The former minister has continued to describe himself as loyal to Zelenskyy, but his latest appeal marks a significant political challenge. Supporters say elections are essential to democratic renewal, while constitutional, security and logistical obstacles make holding a nationwide vote during active hostilities extremely difficult.
Why is Fedorov calling for elections now?
Fedorov made his appeal in a nine-minute video published on YouTube. He argued that Russia should not be allowed to determine when Ukrainians can next choose their leaders.
His argument is rooted in uncertainty surrounding the war. If the conflict continues for several more years, he suggested, Ukraine cannot indefinitely remain under a political model established in 2019.
Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has reportedly supported the idea, saying elections after the war would not necessarily be more civilised than elections held during it. Kuleba also questioned how long Ukrainians could continue under the political arrangement created by the 2019 election.
What made Fedorov popular in Ukraine?
Fedorov gained recognition through digital transformation work and later through his role in the defence ministry. He was not responsible for battlefield command, but his responsibilities included logistics, technology, anti-corruption measures and negotiations connected with Western assistance.
His earlier work on Ukraine’s Diia digital services platform also contributed to his public profile. The application allows citizens to complete numerous government procedures electronically.
His supporters portray him as a modernising politician less associated with traditional political structures. A recent poll cited in the source placed him among Ukraine’s most trusted potential presidential figures.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology survey found that 63 percent of respondents trusted Fedorov, putting him behind former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi at 66 percent. Zelenskyy was reported at 56 percent.
Why was Fedorov removed from the defence ministry?
Zelenskyy dismissed Fedorov in July following a deepening disagreement with Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskii.
Since leaving office, Fedorov has stressed that he remains loyal to Zelenskyy. He reportedly declined other positions, including a proposed role as a presidential adviser on reforms.
Can Ukraine hold an election while the war continues?
The biggest obstacle is security.
Ukraine remains exposed to Russian missile and drone attacks, making a nationwide election campaign extremely difficult. Campaigning would require public meetings, travel and gatherings that could become targets.
Olexiy Haran, a professor at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, said Ukrainians may want political renewal but elections are currently unfeasible without a stable period of reduced fighting.
He argued that Ukraine would need a stable truce of at least six months to create conditions for a credible vote.
The source also states that Ukraine’s constitution directly bans elections during wartime. That creates a legal barrier alongside the practical security challenges.
What do Ukrainians think about wartime elections?
The political debate does not appear to have produced a simple public consensus.
Fedorov has attracted supporters who believe his call represents a defence of democratic principles. Protesters in Kyiv have demanded his return to government and criticised what they describe as corruption and heavy-handed treatment within the wartime administration.
However, political observers cited in the report argue that many Ukrainians still consider wartime elections unacceptable.
Svetlana Chunikhina, vice president of the Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine, described Fedorov’s intervention as a premature attempt to revive political competition during wartime.
The criticism highlights the central dilemma: Ukrainians want democratic institutions to remain legitimate, but many also fear an election held under Russian attack could create more instability rather than solve existing problems.
Could the election debate weaken Zelenskyy?
The controversy adds pressure to Zelenskyy at a time when his government has faced criticism over corruption scandals involving some allies and concerns about the credibility of state institutions.
The source says Zelenskyy’s political movement, which dominated Ukrainian politics after his 2019 victory, has become increasingly dysfunctional. Analysts argue that repeated government reshuffles have not fully addressed the underlying problem of public trust.
Kyiv-based analyst Igar Tyshkevych said Zelenskyy had accumulated significant personal popularity but that state institutions were becoming discredited.
That creates a difficult political situation. Zelenskyy must maintain wartime leadership while also addressing demands for accountability and institutional reform.
Fedorov’s popularity means his election call cannot easily be dismissed as an insignificant political statement. At the same time, his critics argue that he may be placing personal political ambitions ahead of the practical requirements of wartime governance.
What could happen next?
For now, the debate is likely to continue without an immediate presidential election.
The central issue is whether Ukraine can create conditions in which a vote would be secure, legally valid and accepted by the public. A temporary ceasefire could change the calculation, but the source material does not indicate that such conditions currently exist.
The debate could influence Ukrainian politics long before an election takes place. Fedorov’s decision to speak publicly gives voters another prominent figure to consider, while Zelenskyy faces continuing pressure to restore confidence in government institutions.
The debate is testing how Ukraine balances wartime unity, constitutional rules and public demands for accountability while Russian attacks continue.
FAQ: Why does Fedorov want an election during the war?
Fedorov argues that Russia should not be able to determine when Ukrainians exercise their democratic right to choose leaders. He has also raised concerns about allowing a political system formed in 2019 to continue indefinitely if the war lasts for years.
FAQ: Is Ukraine legally allowed to hold elections during wartime?
According to the source material, Ukraine’s constitution directly bans elections during the war. Any move toward a wartime vote would therefore involve a major legal and constitutional question.
FAQ: Why are elections difficult during the conflict?
Security is the biggest challenge. Campaign events, polling stations and public gatherings could be exposed to Russian missile and drone attacks. Displaced Ukrainians and military personnel would also complicate the organisation of a nationwide vote.
FAQ: Could Fedorov challenge Zelenskyy?
His popularity has led to speculation that he could become a future presidential contender. However, there is no confirmed election timetable, and his immediate political plans remain unclear.
The debate over Ukraine’s next election is likely to remain closely connected to the war itself. For Zelenskyy, the challenge is to maintain national unity and military leadership while responding to demands for political renewal. For Fedorov, the challenge is to convince voters that his call is about democratic accountability rather than personal ambition.
As the conflict continues, Ukraine faces an extraordinary political problem: how to preserve democratic legitimacy while fighting a war that makes normal democratic procedures exceptionally difficult. Whether the country eventually moves toward an election during a ceasefire or waits until fighting ends will depend on security, law and political choices in Kyiv.
America News World will continue to follow developments in Ukraine, the Zelenskyy government and the growing debate over wartime elections.
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