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The replaced minister pressed Zelensky, and the answer came: 'It would be a tsunami for the country'
Croatia🏛️ PoliticsProgressive8/23/2026

The replaced minister pressed Zelensky, and the answer came: 'It would be a tsunami for the country'

Smijenjeni ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov, koji je modernizirao oružane snage i razvijao upotrebu dronova, zahtijevao je od predsjednika Volodimira Zelenskija da odgovori na pitanja o mogućoj korupciji u vlasti. Fedorov, smijenjen prošlog mjeseca nakon sukoba s vrhom vojske, u razgovoru za BBC naveo je da je nova istraga o pranju novca otvorila pitanje koliko je Zelenski znao o korupciji u njegovom bliskom krugu. Osim toga, Fedorov ponovno otvorio je temu o izborima, koji su zbog rata suspendirani, tvrdeći da demokracija ne smije biti talac Putina. Zelenski, međutim, smatra da bi održavanje izbora tijekom rata bilo previše opasno, jer bi to bilo „tsunami“ za zemlju. Stručnjaci navode brojne probleme, uključujući glasovanje vojnika, izbjeglice i mogućnost ruskih dezinformacija. Fedorov također naglasio je da nema dokaza da je Zelenski osobno korumpiran, ali traži transparentnost i razgovor o izborima.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov has publicly challenged President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of having unanswered questions regarding corruption within his administration. In a recent interview with the BBC, Fedorov stated that Zelensky faces “questions he must answer” concerning potential corruption in his government. Fedorov, who oversaw major reforms in Ukraine’s military and played a key role in developing drone warfare tactics, was dismissed last month following reports of clashes with the head of the armed forces. The controversy comes amid ongoing investigations into money laundering, which were launched last week. These probes have raised concerns about whether Zelensky was aware of possible corruption within his inner circle. Fedorov, who had previously called for holding elections despite the ongoing war, emphasized that democracy should not become a puppet of Russian influence under Vladimir Putin. Despite this stance, he has avoided directly criticizing Zelensky and has not expressed support for him as a presidential candidate. Fedorov's supporters have held protests in Kyiv for weeks since his dismissal, demanding that Zelensky reinstate him to his former position. Fedorov himself has denied being unemployed, citing the immense stress of managing Ukraine’s defense against Russia while overseeing the transformation of the Ministry of Defense. His protests ended on Wednesday after his successor was officially confirmed, just hours after Fedorov posted a video urging political reforms. Ukraine remains under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, leading to the suspension of elections. Fedorov argued that he has a “moral right” to initiate discussions about restoring democratic processes. He questioned why they fight for democracy if they cannot openly share ideas with their fellow citizens. He warned that if elections are never held, “then we are no longer a democracy.” Zelensky, however, has expressed concerns about conducting elections during the war, calling it a “great risk” for Ukraine. He described such elections as a “tsunami” that could divide the country. Experts have identified numerous obstacles to holding elections, including how soldiers would vote, the challenges faced by millions of internally displaced persons, and the threat of Russian disinformation campaigns. Fedorov’s video highlighting political corruption coincided with the initiation of a money-laundering investigation involving lawmakers and bankers. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine revealed that a scheme had funneled over $3 million illegally to pay bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering. As a result, a high-ranking official in Zelensky’s office was also removed. Fedorov suggested that this case raises questions about whether Zelensky knew about the corruption in his close circle. He urged Zelensky to address these issues directly, stating, “Let him answer this question… I believe he is ready for such questions. It is his responsibility to tell us whether he was aware of all of this or not. I do not want to make assumptions.” A spokesperson for Zelensky previously told the BBC that it is odd to present the situation as though it involves different governments than the ones Fedorov was part of, noting that he did not make any strong statements about corruption during his time in office. Fedorov claimed that while he managed to eliminate parts of corruption in defense procurement systems, the issue still affects Ukraine’s ability to supply its front lines. He noted that he had not spoken to Zelensky for several weeks and pointed out that there is no evidence of personal corruption on Zelensky’s part. “Throughout my time working with him, I never received an order or instruction from him that violated the law or my sense of integrity,” he said personally.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 5 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

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  • Source documentBBC

5 reports

N1 Hrvatska logoN1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 808/23/2026
Replacement minister says Zelensky should be questioned about corruption in government

Smijenjeni ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov, koji je bio pionir u upotrebi dronova u ratu, tvrdi za BBC da Ukrajinin predsjednik Volodimir Zelenski treba odgovoriti na pitanja o korupciji u njegovoj vladi. Fedorov, koji je bio u sukobu s načelnikom oružanih snaga prije nego što je bio otpušten u srpnju 2026., ističe da nedavna istraga o pranju novca pokazuje potencijalnu korupciju u Zelenskijevom užem krugu. Iako tvrdi da nije primijetio direktnu korupciju kod Zelenskija, Fedorov apeliše za održavanje izbora, koje su suspendirani zbog rata. On smatra da je njegovo 'moralno pravo' pokrenuti razgovore o izborima, jer, prema njemu, bez demokratskog procesa Ukrajina više nije demokracija.

Bias read (Progressive): Artikl naglašava kritiku prema Zelenskom i njegovoj vladi, posebno u vezi s korupcijom, i apeliše za demokratski proces. Iako se ne radi o direktnom političkom konfliktu, ton i okvir stvaraju levi sklon. Kritika vlasti i apel za demokratske reforme su često vezani uz lijevo-političke pozicije.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the statements made by Mikhailo Fedorov to the BBC, including his call for elections, his criticism of potential corruption in Zelensky's inner circle, and his defense of his actions. It aligns closely with the primary source document and does not introduce any new inf

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, presenting both Fedorov's arguments and the counterpoints from Zelensky's office. The article avoids taking sides and presents the situation fairly, although it slightly emphasizes Fedorov's perspective due to its focus on his comments.

HRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija) logoHRT (Hrvatska radiotelevizija)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 808/23/2026
Replaced Ukrainian minister: Zelenskyy must answer for corruption

The article reports that Mykhailo Fedorov, a former Ukrainian Minister of Defense who was dismissed in August after reportedly clashing with the head of Ukraine's armed forces, has accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of potential corruption within his inner circle. Fedorov stated that a recent anti-corruption investigation suggests Zelensky should be questioned about this. He emphasized that he personally did not observe any corrupt activities by Zelensky during their collaboration. Fedorov also called for holding elections in Ukraine, which have been suspended since the country entered a state of war following Russia's invasion in 2022. He argued that failing to hold elections would undermine democracy.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Fedorov's claims against Zelensky regarding potential corruption but does not take a clear stance or exhibit biased language. It includes direct quotes from Fedorov and provides context about the suspension of elections due to the ongoing conflict. The framing remains neutral,陈述

Why factuality (85): This article mirrors the content of the first article, providing the same core information about Fedorov's criticisms of Zelensky and his call for elections. It maintains consistency with the primary source and does not add or omit significant details. Minor differences in phrasing do not affect fac

Why objectivity (80): The article maintains a balanced tone, presenting Fedorov's views alongside the context of Zelensky's position. While it focuses on Fedorov's statements, it does so without overt bias, keeping the narrative objective.

Večernji list logoVečernji listIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 758/23/2026
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister calls Zelensky: 'There are questions he must answer'

Bivši ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov, koji je igrao ključnu ulogu u modernizaciji ukrajinskog vojno-tehnološkog aparata, izrazio je zabrinutost oko korupcije u ukrajinskoj vladnoj strukturi, posebno u bliskom krugu predsjednika Volodimira Zelenskog. Fedorov, smijenjen prošlog mjeseca nakon sukoba s čelnikom oružanih snaga, za BBC dao je izjavu u kojoj je naglasio da istraga o pranju novca otvara pitanja o tome je li Zelenski bio upozoren na moguću korupciju. Iako nije izričito kritizirao Zelenskog, Fedorov je izrazio potrebu za transparentnošću i demokratskom diskusijom, a njegovi pristaši su organizirali prosvjede zahtevajući njegov povrat. U skladu s ratnim stanjem koje traje od 2022. godine, izbori su suspendirani, ali Fedorov tvrdi da ima moralno pravo pokrenuti razgovore o njima. Zelenski je izrazio mišljenje da bi održavanje izbora u trenutku rata bilo preopasno.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue around concerns over corruption within the executive branch, particularly focusing on potential complicity by President Zelensky. While it does not directly criticize Zelensky, it emphasizes the need for transparency and democratic discourse, which aligns more closely to

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports Fedorov's claim that Zelensky should be questioned about potential corruption in his inner circle, citing the money laundering investigation. It includes direct quotes from Fedorov and mentions the context of his dismissal and the ongoing martial law. However, it omits

Why objectivity (75): The article presents Fedorov's statements neutrally but uses emotionally charged terms like 'talac Putina' (Putin's hostage) and frames the issue as a democratic imperative. While it does not explicitly take sides, the emphasis on Fedorov's moral stance may subtly favor his perspective.

Index.hr logoIndex.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 80Objective 708/23/2026
Fedorov: Zelensky has questions he needs to answer

Ministar obrane Ukrajine Mihajlo Fedorov, smijenjen prošlog mjeseca zbog sukoba sa načelnikom oružanih snaga, za BBC tvrtku rekao da Ukrajinski predsjednik Volodimir Zelenski ima 'pitanja na koja mora odgovoriti' o korupciji u svojoj vladi. Fedorov je objavio video u kojem je upozoren na političku korupciju, isto vrijeme kada je pokrenuta istraga o pranju novca protiv zastupnika i bankara. Istraživački organ otkrio je shemu u kojoj je pronevjereno više od tri milijuna dolara za jamčevinu bivšeg ministra optuženog za pranje novca. Fedorov je naglasio da slučaj otvara pitanje je li Zelenski svjestan moguće korupcije u svom užem krugu. Njegovi pristaši su prosvjedovali na ulicama Kijeva za njegovo vraćanje na dužnost, dok je Zelenski naveo da bi održavanje izbora tijekom rata bilo preopasno za Ukrajinu.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue around corruption within Zelensky’s inner circle, highlighting concerns raised by Fedorov, who was removed from office due to conflicts with military leadership. The narrative emphasizes democratic accountability and challenges to Zelensky’s administration, aligning more

Why factuality (80): The article captures Fedorov's main points about Zelensky needing to address corruption and the context of his dismissal. It includes relevant background information about the martial law and the suspension of elections. However, it lacks some specifics from the primary source, such as Fedorov’s ass

Why objectivity (70): The article maintains a relatively neutral tone but leans slightly toward Fedorov’s viewpoint by emphasizing his calls for democracy and elections. The phrase 'demokracija ne smije biti Putinov talac' could be interpreted as a biased framing of the situation.

Net.hr logoNet.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 80Objective 658/23/2026
The replaced minister pressed Zelensky, and the answer came: 'It would be a tsunami for the country'

Smijenjeni ukrajinski ministar obrane Mihajlo Fedorov, koji je modernizirao oružane snage i razvijao upotrebu dronova, zahtijevao je od predsjednika Volodimira Zelenskija da odgovori na pitanja o mogućoj korupciji u vlasti. Fedorov, smijenjen prošlog mjeseca nakon sukoba s vrhom vojske, u razgovoru za BBC naveo je da je nova istraga o pranju novca otvorila pitanje koliko je Zelenski znao o korupciji u njegovom bliskom krugu. Osim toga, Fedorov ponovno otvorio je temu o izborima, koji su zbog rata suspendirani, tvrdeći da demokracija ne smije biti talac Putina. Zelenski, međutim, smatra da bi održavanje izbora tijekom rata bilo previše opasno, jer bi to bilo „tsunami“ za zemlju. Stručnjaci navode brojne probleme, uključujući glasovanje vojnika, izbjeglice i mogućnost ruskih dezinformacija. Fedorov također naglasio je da nema dokaza da je Zelenski osobno korumpiran, ali traži transparentnost i razgovor o izborima.

Bias read (Progressive): Artikel fokusira se na kritiku Zelenskijevog režima i poticanje demokratskog procesa, što se smatra desničarskim stavom. Fedorov, kao član vlade, zahtijeva transparentnost i razgovor o izborima, što se interpretira kao kritika centraliziranog vladanja. Napominje se da Zelenski smatra da bi izbori tě

Why factuality (80): The article accurately conveys Fedorov's demand for Zelensky to address corruption and the context surrounding his dismissal. It references the money laundering investigation and the suspension of elections due to martial law. However, it omits some nuances from the primary source, such as Fedorov’s

Why objectivity (65): The article is somewhat biased in tone, using phrases like 'to bi bio tsunami za državu' (that would be a tsunami for the country) when quoting Zelenski, which may imply criticism of his position. It also emphasizes Fedorov’s moral arguments, potentially giving him more weight in the narrative.

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