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Sacked Ukrainian defence minister calls for presidential election
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, challenging President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
- Fedorov emphasized the importance of maintaining democracy during the war, criticizing Ukraine's "systemic crisis of governance" and corruption as detrimental to the war effort.
- Fired in July after six months as defence minister, Fedorov was credited with modernizing the ministry, combating corruption, and promoting high-tech warfare, including drone use and cyber operations.
- His dismissal reportedly stemmed from tensions with army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was also later replaced following public protests.
- Zelensky has appointed Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister and offered Fedorov other government roles, which Fedorov has declined, insisting he would only return as defence minister.
