Zelenskyy publicly details rift with dismissed defense minister Fedorov over elections and governance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly addressed his dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov for the first time on August 23, 2026, saying Fedorov's actions including calling for wartime elections were misguided. Fedorov, fired in July 2026 after a falling-out with top general Oleksandr Syrskii, had posted a YouTube video calling for elections and criticizing governance. Zelenskyy said elections during the war would risk splitting Ukraine apart, while Fedorov argued democracy should not be held hostage by Russia.
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“Zelenskyy rejects election call from fired defence minister”FT Financial Times RIGHT-CENTER
“Zelensky speaks out about dismissed defence minister for first time” · PBS NewsHour, Al Jazeera, Globe and Mail, Deutsche Welle, BBC, South China Morning Post, Reuters, Le Monde