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Fedorov demands a wartime vote as one specialist dies near Zaporizhzhia plant

Dismissed defence minister Fedorov called for a wartime presidential vote, while a drone strike near the Zaporizhzhia plant killed one specialist and wounded 17.

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A small queue of civilians at the sandbagged entrance of a monumental public building in bright summer light.

Fedorov calls for an election in a nine-minute address

Ukraine's dismissed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for a presidential election to be held while the war continues in a nine-minute video address released on Tuesday evening. Fedorov said Ukraine had to restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war and that democracy could not be held hostage by Russia. Without naming Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said people cannot live in a state where they do not understand why decisions are made. He warned that the main criterion for appointment was becoming personal loyalty to the system rather than professionalism, results or the ability to transform the country. Elections have been suspended under martial law since 2022, and Zelenskyy's five-year term ended in May 2024. Polling by the Socis Centre for Social Research at the turn of the month put Fedorov third in a first round on 13.1 per cent, behind Zelenskyy on 22.3 per cent and Valerii Zaluzhnyi on 21.4 per cent. Political analyst Artem Bronzhukov said there is no clear understanding of how to keep voters safe during a full-scale war.[1]

One specialist dies and 17 are wounded near the Zaporizhzhia plant

Russian reports say a drone strike close to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in occupied south-eastern Ukraine killed one nuclear specialist and wounded 17, most of them plant employees; Moscow attributed the drone to Ukraine. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the strike hit staff at a bus stop and said no nuclear safety or security damage was reported. The agency called on military commanders and others aiming at nuclear power plants or their staff to stop unacceptable actions carrying great risks to nuclear safety. The plant's Russian management said on Telegram that the attack was one of the most serious incidents in the plant's history. Russian forces seized the plant a month after the February 2022 invasion and have managed it since. All six reactors, able to produce nearly six gigawatts, have been shut down; Al Jazeera noted that a strike could still damage equipment and allow a serious release of radioactive material.[2]

Zelenskyy nominates Khmara as permanent defence minister

Before Fedorov's address, Zelenskyy formally nominated acting defence minister Yevhen Khmara to take the post permanently; parliament must confirm the nomination and a vote was expected on Wednesday. Fedorov was dismissed in July after a falling out with military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi and his removal was followed by street protests. According to The Guardian, nightly protests in a square below the presidential office in Kyiv had been dwindling, but a special rally on Sunday night attracted about 2,000 people. Fedorov's election call brought ballot security during the war back into debate. Political analyst Artem Bronzhukov said voting conditions under full-scale bombardment are not yet settled.[1]

References

  1. News sourceThe GuardianDismissed a month ago, Fedorov calls for a wartime presidential vote↩1↩2
  2. News sourceAl JazeeraOne specialist is killed and 17 are wounded at a stop near the Zaporizhzhia plant↩
Russia-Ukraine warMiddle East balance of powerEnergy transition and climate

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