Sacked Ukraine defence minister calls for wartime presidential election

The poll would represent the first leadership challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia invaded in 2022, with the ousted defence minister claiming Ukraine faces a "crisis of governance".

Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, in what is widely seen as the biggest challenge to Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency since Russia's full-scale invasion four and a half years ago.

Ukraine’s sacked defence minister calls for wartime elections

Fedorov's video address came just hours after Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally nominated Yevhen Khmara as defence minister, closing the door on Fedorov’s return to government.

Martial law has been in place in Ukraine since February 2022, under which elections are suspended.

Mykhailo Fedorov’s appeal is most direct challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russian invasion in 2022 Ukraine’s recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election in the most direct political challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of Russia’s full-sca