What you need to know
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov calls for wartime elections
- Popular 35-year-old says 'democracy must not be held hostage'
- Tech-savy Fedorov also criticizes corruption, reform resistance and 'systemic' crisis
Welcome to DW's coverage of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine on Wednesday, 19 August, 2026. Catch up the week's previous developments here.
Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov calls for elections
The recently ousted Ukrainian Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called for Ukraine to hold wartime elections in what consitutes the biggest challenge to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
"Democracy must not be held hostage by Russia," Fedorov, 35, said in a bombshell video message broadcast on Tuesday evening. "We are fighting precisely because we want to be a free European state."
Fedorov's announcement came just hours after Zelenskyy had nominated acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara to be Fedorov's permament successor at the defense ministry.
But Fedorov, who is credited with spearheading the digitalization of Ukraine's war effort, particularly in the field of drone warfare, enjoys significant support among younger Ukrainians, thousands of whom have been calling for his reinstatement.
Welcome to our coverage
Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday, 19 August, 2026.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for elections to be held despite the ongoing war, less than a month after his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Fedorov's call comes after Zelenskyy nominated Yevhenii Khmara to replace him as Defense Minister.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian anti-graft agencies say they are investigate a group involving presidential officials.