Ukraine’s ex-defense chief Fedorov calls for wartime elections

On 19 August 2026, Ukraine's sacked defence minister Fedorov called for wartime presidential elections, as parliament approved Yevhenii Khmara as the new defence minister. Fedorov, dismissed by Zelensky, also denounced corruption in what Le Monde called an act of defiance against Zelensky, and the New York Times described it as cementing his break with him. The Verkhovna Rada also approved Sybiha as foreign minister with 266 votes.

Separately, Zelensky fired Iryna Mudra, deputy head of his office, after an operation by the anti-corruption bureau NABU. The corruption probe reached Zelensky's inner circle, including members of his cabinet and lawmakers, according to Le Figaro.