Zelenskyy Faces Corruption Questions, Election Call From Sacked Defense Minister
Ukraine's recently dismissed defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, stated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has "questions to answer" about corruption and called for wartime presidential elections. Zelenskyy has rejected the idea of holding elections during the ongoing conflict.
The short version
- Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's sacked former defense minister, told the BBC that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has "questions to answer" regarding corruption in his government.
- Fedorov, dismissed in July 2026, also called for wartime presidential elections in Ukraine to renew democratic processes, though he did not propose a timetable.
- President Zelenskyy rejected the election call on August 23, 2026, stating that holding elections during the war would be a "huge risk" that could "split Ukraine".
- Corruption allegations stem from a money laundering investigation announced last week by NABU, targeting a criminal organization alleged to have laundered $3.4 million.
- Suspects in the money laundering probe include a former lawmaker, bank officials, and an unnamed deputy head of the presidential office, with a senior aide, Iryna Mudra, reportedly fired in connection.
KYIV – Ukraine's leadership is facing fresh scrutiny over corruption and wartime governance after Mykhailo Fedorov, the recently dismissed former defense minister, told the BBC that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has “questions to answer” regarding graft within his government. Fedorov, a popular reformer credited with modernizing Ukraine's military drone program, also called for wartime presidential elections, challenging the current suspension of democratic processes amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Fedorov’s comments, made public in a nine-minute online video address on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and in subsequent remarks to the BBC, come just weeks after his own abrupt sacking in July 2026. His dismissal reportedly triggered a wave of protests across Ukraine.
What are the specific corruption allegations?
Fedorov’s concerns about corruption are directly linked to a money laundering investigation announced last week by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). This operation aims to expose a criminal organization alleged to have laundered $3.4 million, used to pay bail for a defendant in a significant graft case from the previous year. Binance, citing the BBC, reported the scheme involved misappropriating over $3 million in Ukrainian currency.
The investigation targets a group of individuals including a former lawmaker, the chairperson of a state bank's board, the head of the bank's supervisory board, and a deputy head of the presidential office. In connection with this probe, Zelenskyy reportedly fired senior aide Iryna Mudra. Fedorov explicitly stated he has no evidence that President Zelenskyy is personally corrupt.
Why is the former minister calling for wartime elections?
In his video address, Fedorov called for "a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war." He emphasized that "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We are fighting precisely because we want to remain a free European state," adding, "Democracy is not a peacetime luxury. Democracy is part of what we are fighting for today." He did not, however, demand an immediate vote or propose a specific timetable for such elections.
How has President Zelenskyy responded to the election call?
President Zelenskyy swiftly rejected the idea of holding elections during the war, stating on Sunday, August 23, 2026, that "in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine." Ukraine's constitution prohibits national votes while martial law is in effect, a measure imposed following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskyy's presidential term technically expired in May 2024, a point Russia has repeatedly used to question his legitimacy.
What is the broader context of corruption in Ukraine?
Ukraine has a long history of endemic corruption, with President Zelenskyy himself elected in 2019 on a strong anti-graft mandate. The country has seen several high-profile corruption scandals even during the ongoing war. Former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was dismissed in September 2023 over allegations of inflated food prices and overpriced winter clothing for soldiers within his ministry, among other issues.
More recently, the "Operation Midas" scandal rocked the energy sector in late 2025 and early 2026, involving alleged kickbacks of around $100 million linked to the state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom. This led to the resignations of several ministers. Fedorov's own dismissal last month was reportedly due to an "unsolvable feud" between him and General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskyy's top general. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has nominated Yevhen Khmara to permanently take the post of Defense Minister, with a parliamentary vote expected on Wednesday, August 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is President Zelenskyy personally accused of corruption?
Mykhailo Fedorov explicitly stated he has no evidence of President Zelenskyy's personal corruption. Instead, Fedorov believes the president has "questions to answer" regarding corruption within his government, particularly concerning a recent money laundering investigation.
Why can't Ukraine hold presidential elections now?
Ukraine's constitution prohibits national votes while martial law is in effect, a measure that has been in place since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. President Zelenskyy also stated that holding elections during the war would pose a "huge risk" and could "split Ukraine".
Reported by the RevReck Newsroom from the reporting linked below, with AI assistance in drafting, under editorial rules covering accuracy, attribution and what we will not publish. Read our editorial standards, or email corrections to operations@revreck.com.