‘Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia’: Ousted after clashing with Ukraine’s top general, Mykhailo Fedorov now argues elections can’t wait for peace

Mykhailo Fedorov, dismissed as Ukraine's defense minister in July after clashing with then-commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, called in a video address for a mechanism allowing elections to proceed during the ongoing war. He argued that letting Russia effectively veto Ukrainian democracy by prolonging the war is unacceptable.

Fedorov acknowledged the practical obstacles — guaranteeing votes for soldiers, millions abroad, and residents of frontline regions — but said difficulty doesn't equal impossibility. His dismissal sparked street protests that continue, and Syrskyi was also removed shortly after.

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