Dismissed Ukrainian Defence Minister Fedorov Calls for Wartime Presidential Election

Fedorov, 35, posted a nine-minute YouTube address urging Ukraine to "restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war." He said "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia" and called for a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" for wartime elections. Elections have been suspended under martial law since Russia's 2022 invasion. Zelenskyy's five-year term ended in May 2024.