The political confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov appears to have ended with the former minister coming off worse. His call for elections to be held amid the ongoing conflict failed to win the support of protesters who had previously demonstrated against his dismissal.

 

After Fedorov was dismissed in July, protests were held in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Demonstrators demanded explanations for the unexpected ministerial change and called for him to be reinstated.

However, after Fedorov called for elections to be held during the war, the protest movement began to lose momentum. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian parliament approved Yevhen Khmara as the new defence minister, while only several dozen protesters remained in Kyiv’s central square, where thousands had previously gathered.

According to the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 57% of Ukrainians believe elections should be held only after the fighting ends. Holding a vote during the war is complicated by the presence of military personnel on the front line, millions of Ukrainians living abroad, as well as territories under Russian control.

At the same time, Zelenskiy’s position remains relatively strong despite periodic political scandals and accusations of governance problems. His approval rating remains at around 60%.

Thus, Fedorov’s attempt to use the protests over his dismissal to broaden his political confrontation with Zelenskiy has so far failed to produce the expected result. Following the approval of the new defence minister, the protest movement has effectively petered out.

 

Analysts believe Fedorov’s call for elections was a political miscalculation. According to experts, he may have hoped to strengthen his position as a potential rival to Zelenskiy, but misjudged public sentiment.

#NEWS

#UKRAINE

22.08.2026 06:29