Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in what many

Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, in what many see as the biggest challenge to Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency since war broke out with Russia in February 2022.

"Democracy cannot be held hostage He argued that Ukraine was facing a "systemic crisis of governance" and is "scared of change," and pointed to corruption in Ukraine as one of the things hurting the country's war effort.

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Fedorov, who did not mention Zelensky His dismissal is widely accepted to have been related to tensions between him and army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Zelensky has since appointed Yevgeniy Khmara as acting defence minister, but Fedorov has said he would only return as defence minister. The move has sparked protests across the country, with many seeing it as a challenge to Zelensky's presidency. Fedorov's call for wartime elections is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict.