Ukraine: Fedorov calls for elections
Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post as Ukrainian defence minister a month ago amid widespread protests, has called in a video message to the Ukrainian people for a legitimate, secure and realistic way to be found to hold elections despite the war. Democracy in Ukraine must not depend on Russia's actions, he warned. Commentators in the country take stock.
The start of his own campaign
Political scientist Volodymyr Fessenko analyses Fedorov's motives in a Facebook post:
“Fedorov's video message calling for elections effectively marks the former defence minister's move into the opposition. In the current context, this is a reaction to the fact that any prospect of him returning to the post of defence minister is now definitively off the table. But there is more at stake now. Fedorov is essentially proposing that Ukrainians decide, in the foreseeable future – and that future is unlikely to be too far off – who is in the right in his conflict with Zelensky. This is not merely a personal conflict. Fedorov is directly hinting at a confrontation with the 'collective Zelensky'. ... In a sense, this marks the start of his own election campaign.”
Criticism without clarity
Writing on Facebook, blogger Serhii Marchenko accuses Fedorov of not daring to mention Zelensky by name:
“Mykhailo was not being sincere, because he kept talking about a system that resists reform, yet for some reason he never once mentioned the person who created and maintains that system. Fedorov's cautious and evasive words convey the impression that this system emerged out of nowhere. ... Fedorov did not have the courage to name the sole source of power in the country, who wields the unrestricted powers of a monarch and thus also bears responsibility for everything that happens in the country at their behest.”
Defence capabilities must not be undermined
The political turmoil must not unleash chaos, warns anti-corruption expert Olena Trehub on Facebook:
“Right now, Fedorov's deputies remain in charge of their respective areas of responsibility and are working alongside the new ministry leadership. If they stay, a degree of institutional continuity would be maintained. However it is possible that the team might now suddenly leave en masse. … Our task is to closely monitor staffing decisions and changes to the system to ensure that political turmoil does not turn into administrative chaos, increase the risks of corruption or – most importantly – undermine Ukraine's defence capabilities.”