President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected a call by his former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, to hold elections amid the ongoing war with Russia, warning that such a move would dangerously split the nation. Zelensky emphasized that conducting elections during wartime would be a 'tsunami for the country' that could lead to its destruction. Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a decision widely supported by the population as the nation remains focused on repelling the Russian invasion that began in 2022.
Zelensky, who was elected in 2019, has faced previous calls from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump to hold elections. However, he maintains that the current conflict makes such a process extremely risky. 'Elections right now are a huge risk. If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war,' Zelensky stated during a briefing with journalists.
The political crisis in Kyiv was ignited when Zelensky dismissed the popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, leading to widespread protests demanding his reinstatement. Fedorov, who had been a strong advocate for drone warfare and army reforms, recently called for organizing elections without explicitly stating he would challenge Zelensky. This surprising move has caused even some of his supporters to distance themselves from him.
Experts highlight numerous obstacles to staging elections, including the logistics of how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees, and people from occupied territories would cast their ballots. Additionally, there is the threat of both interference and physical attacks from Russia. According to an opinion poll, only 15 percent of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before the end of hostilities.
Despite facing increasing domestic criticism as the war drags on, Zelensky remains largely popular. During the briefing, he criticized Fedorov, suggesting he might be 'going himself -- or is being pushed -- toward wrong things.' Fedorov's team confirmed he plans to visit the United States soon, sparking speculation about whether he is positioning himself as a rival to Zelensky.
The political turmoil comes amid an escalation in the war. Moscow has intensified its strikes using hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles, exposing Ukraine's air defence shortfall. In response, Ukraine has accelerated its campaign of long-range strikes on Russian energy and logistics sites. Zelensky noted that deliveries of crucial interceptor missiles for US Patriot air defence systems have significantly decreased, despite an increase in Russian missile strikes.
Civilian deaths in the ongoing war have surged to their highest levels since the invasion began, according to verified statistics from the United Nations. Ukraine is set to host a meeting with its European allies to discuss strategies to pressure Russia to end its invasion. The situation remains critical, with Zelensky urging continued international support to withstand the escalating conflict.
