Fedorov moves from Zelenskyy loyalist to opposition with wartime elections call - analyst

“Ostensibly, this is a response to the fact that his return to the defense ministry is permanently off the table, but now the stakes are rising,” Fesenko stated.

Fesenko believes Fedorov’s “ultimate goal” may be to “dramatically alter domestic politics by pushing for wartime elections.”

“While most Ukrainians currently oppose holding elections during the war, that opposition is shrinking, with critics now making up just over half the population,” Fesenko noted. “Fedorov’s speech could tip the scales and significantly increase public support for a wartime vote.”

The analyst noted that Fedorov's address delivers a "direct counterattack," effectively inviting Ukrainians to decide in the near future who is right in his brewing confrontation with Zelenskyy.

Fesenko also noted the video footage accompanying the statement, pointing out that Fedorov is signaling a confrontation with the "collective Zelenskyy" rather than just a personal rift. By visually featuring figures like Yermak and Arakhamia, the address clearly links the president's inner circle to accusations of corruption, the analyst added.

“This acts as a prelude to his own election campaign, a call to trigger a debate on wartime voting, and a way to completely reshape the domestic political agenda to seize the strategic initiative,” the analyst wrote.

At the same time, Fesenko pointed out that holding traditional elections using standard procedures is practically impossible during a full-scale war.

Fesenko suggested the former minister aims to leverage his background in digitalizing Ukraine to propose a workaround.

“As a tech guru, Mykhailo Fedorov could pitch alternative voting methods, such as voting by smartphone or mail,” Fesenko posited. “I am certain he will roll out concrete proposals soon, moving step-by-step to keep the political initiative firmly in his hands.”

Fesenko also expects Fedorov’s statement to shift public opinion, forcing many critics – especially within the political opposition – to reconsider their past skepticism toward digital and electronic voting.

“A presidential election would be the easiest to organize this way, even under tight deadlines,” Fesenko noted. “The vote would essentially become a referendum on trust, forcing a direct choice between Zelenskyy and Fedorov. This is likely part of Fedorov’s strategy. He cannot and will not wait – in that sense, he is very much like Zelenskyy.”

“Fedorov will fight the president in his own bold, rapid style, but with a technological edge that Zelenskyy lacks.”

Fesenko also emphasized that following Fedorov’s statement, the "cardboard Maidan" protest movement and all opponents of Zelenskyy will gain a new unifying ideology and rally cries to drive their movement forward.

“A fundamentally new stage in domestic politics seems to be unfolding in Ukraine during this war,” Fesenko concluded. “But let us not lose sight of the conflict itself. The war remains the primary challenge for all of us, including Zelenskyy and Fedorov.”

Mykhailo Fedorov’s address

In a video posted on his YouTube channel on August 18, Former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine must hold elections.

Fedorov acknowledged major challenges associated with holding wartime elections: ensuring active-duty troops can vote, along with millions of Ukrainians abroad and those living in frontline areas.

“What if the war lasts another year, or two, or three – does Russia then effectively hold the right to determine when Ukrainians can once again choose their government?” Fedorov said.

He emphasized that Ukraine cannot remain without a fully appointed defense minister during a war, while also calling for a broader discussion on the future of the state and democracy.

Fedorov argued that the nation's defense policy cannot rely on temporary measures while Ukraine fights daily for its survival. He added that the issue extends far beyond a single ministry or position, insisting that the country must establish exactly how the state should function during a protracted war.

Fedorov also commented on the protests against his resignation, which have now been going on for a month.

“People cannot live indefinitely in a state where they do not understand why certain decisions are made,” Fedorov said. “They don't understand why some reforms move forward while others are blocked, or why urgent frontline decisions stall in government offices for months. 

“It is especially dangerous when the public begins to feel that the main criterion for an appointment is personal loyalty to the system, rather than professionalism, results, or the ability to transform the country.”

Fedorov also stated that elections are not merely a voting procedure, but a crucial moment of government accountability to its citizens.

“An election is more than just a ballot,” Fedorov said. “It is the moment when the government turns to its citizens and says, 'Here is what we have done. Now you decide if you still trust us.' This exact principle separates a democracy from a system where the government decides for itself when the public is allowed to evaluate it.”