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

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.