Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s demand to hold wartime elections has sparked consternation in Kyiv, as the ramifications of a controversial government reshuffle rumble on.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s contentious ouster of Fedorov last month triggered nationwide protests — and has now resulted in the most serious internal challenge to his leadership since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Politicians from across the aisle chided Fedorov after the former minister’s call on Tuesday night to find a “legal, safe, and realistic mechanism” that would allow Ukraine to “resume a full-fledged democratic process, even amidst the ongoing war.”