Zelensky rejects wartime elections as former minister warns of defense corruption
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed calls for wartime voting as a hazard that would fracture the country, following appeals and corruption allegations by former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Zelensky rejects wartime voting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Sunday, 23 August 2026, that conducting elections during the ongoing Russian invasion would present an immense danger to the nation. Speaking to journalists from news agencies including Agence France-Presse, Zelensky characterized the prospect of holding a national ballot amid active hostilities as a tsunami that would fracture Ukraine. The president stressed that organizing an electoral contest during a full-scale war poses severe internal risks for the country. His statements follow public calls from former members of his administration to begin legal and logistical preparations for a vote.
I think that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk.
Ex-defense minister calls for democratic return
The remarks by the president came after former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly urged Ukraine to clear the path for elections. Zelensky dismissed Fedorov from the defense post in July 2026, ending his tenure in the cabinet. On 18 August 2026, Fedorov first issued an appeal to resume the democratic process despite the continuation of the Russian invasion. In an interview broadcast on Ukrainian television on Saturday, 22 August 2026, the former defense minister renewed that demand, arguing that the state must prepare for the return of its democratic cycle across local, legislative, and presidential ballots. Fedorov maintained that organizing these votes is realistic and stated that Ukraine should not wait for a crisis to emerge before searching for institutional solutions.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky dismisses Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister
- Fedorov calls for Ukraine to open the path to elections despite the war
- Fedorov airs interview detailing ministry corruption; strikes hit Odesa injuring three
- Zelensky rejects wartime elections in public remarks to reporters
Allegations of widespread ministry corruption
During the same televised broadcast on Saturday, Fedorov leveled accusations of deep-rooted graft inside the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The dismissed minister alleged that widespread corruption continues to impede effective military decision-making and weakens the national war effort. Fedorov stated that numerous officials have established financial schemes designed solely to benefit their personal interests rather than the military apparatus. He noted that his personal experience leading the ministry demonstrated that systemic misuse of public funds involves far more than a handful of senior leaders.
It is not about one person, two people or simply a few high-ranking officials. We are talking about hundreds of people who have simply become accustomed, over the years, to enriching themselves at the expense of the state budget.
Fedorov added that this internal financial misconduct directly prevents Ukraine from concluding the war from a position of strength.
Overnight strikes in Odesa and Kyiv region
The internal political debate over elections and governance unfolded alongside sustained military operations across Ukrainian territory. Late on Saturday afternoon, Russian forces carried out a prolonged and combined strike against the southern port city of Odesa. Regional governor Oleg Kiper confirmed that the bombardment struck a residential house and damaged grain silos. The attack wounded three people in the region, including a 16-year-old girl, according to local authorities cited by Agence France-Presse. In a separate statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces targeted trucks adapted for long-range drone transport near Kyiv, alongside military-linked targets in Odesa.
