Ousted Ukraine defense chief Fedorov calls for wartime elections in challenge to Zelensky

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, ousted in July, has called for wartime elections, presenting the most significant internal challenge to President Volodymyr Zelensky since 2022. In a video address, Fedorov argued that Ukraine faces a "systemic crisis of governance" and that "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." He urged for a legal mechanism to restore democratic processes despite wartime prohibitions on elections. Fedorov, who previously served as digitalization chief and was the last remaining member of Zelensky's first cabinet, was fired from the defense ministry six months after his appointment, where he had vowed sweeping reforms and publicly clashed with military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. Recent polls suggest Fedorov could defeat Zelensky in a runoff vote, though he did not explicitly state his intention to run.