Zelensky should be asked what he knew about government corruption, sacked minister tells BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should be asked questions about corruption in his government, his sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has told the BBC.

Fedorov, a popular minister who modernised the military and pioneered drone warfare, was fired last month after reportedly falling out with the head of Ukraine’s armed forces.

He told the BBC a money laundering investigation announced last week meant Zelensky should be asked about his awareness of potential corruption in his inner circle.

But he said he had not himself seen the president engage in any corrupt activity.

“In all the time that I worked with him, not a single time have I received from him any task or assignment that would go against law or my sense of integrity”, Federov said.

The former minister also repeated his appeal for elections to be held in Ukraine, days after releasing a video where he called for a wartime vote.

“Democracy should not be the hostage of Putin”, he said – but stopped short of declaring his own political ambitions.

There were angry protests over Fedorov’s sacking but his support dwindled and demonstrations ended on Wednesday, after his replacement was confirmed. His call for a vote has been widely rejected.

Asked whether he missed his old job, the 35-year-old replied “No”, citing the relentless stress of managing Ukraine’s war with Russia while transforming its defence ministry.

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, meaning elections are suspended. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term ended in May 2024.

But Fedorov said it was his “moral right” to start the conversation about elections.

“We should not be afraid of discussing it. That’s what democracy is all about. If I cannot share my ideas and be open about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?”

If elections were never held, he said, “then we are no longer a democracy”.