Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing renewed pressure to conduct wartime elections, despite the constitutional prohibition on such elections during martial law. The call for elections comes from Mykhailo Fedorov, the former defense minister who was recently ousted from his government position. Fedorov emphasized the need for a lawful and practical mechanism to enable Ukraine to uphold its democratic processes amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.
Although some argue that holding elections is currently impractical due to the ongoing war that began in February 2022, the political implications of the election demand are significant for Zelenskyy. Tymofiy Mylovanov, a former Ukrainian government minister, noted that while Fedorov has made elections a pressing domestic issue, the immediate likelihood of elections remains uncertain.
Before his dismissal, Fedorov, known as a reform-minded and tech-savvy official, held key positions in Zelenskyy’s administration. Born in 1991, Fedorov previously served as Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation and advocated for the use of drone technology in combatting Russian aggression.
Following Fedorov’s removal as defense minister in July, protests erupted across Ukraine, urging Zelenskyy to reverse the decision. Despite offers for a different governmental role, Fedorov insisted on the defense minister post, which Zelenskyy assigned to Yevhenii Khmara. The appointment was formalized by Ukrainian legislators on Wednesday.
The feasibility of conducting elections under the current circumstances is questioned by some, including Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a combat medic who supported protests for Fedorov’s reinstatement. Lesia Bidochko, a policy expert, criticized Fedorov’s call for elections as lacking practicality and veering into populism.
Several experts, such as Ukrainian lawmaker Lesia Vasylenko and Orysia Lutsevych from Chatham House, believe that organizing wartime elections is unrealistic and could pose risks to national unity and be exploited by Moscow. Zelenskyy has yet to directly respond to Fedorov’s election demand, with his communications advisor highlighting the daily threats posed by Russian aggression as a priority.
Amidst international scrutiny, Russia has labeled Zelenskyy as illegitimate, citing the expiration of his term in May 2024. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also criticized the lack of elections in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a democratic vote.