Mykhailo Fedorov, then-Defense Minister, on June 30, 2026. (Roman Pashkovskiy / Mykhailo Fedorov’s team)Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov dropped a bombshell of a video on Aug. 18, calling for elections in Ukraine and becoming by far the most high-profile person to advocate for such a move during Russia's full-scale invasion.In an address posted on YouTube, Fedorov said Ukraine needs a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" for holding elections during a prolonged war while ensuring voting rights for military personnel, Ukrainians abroad, and people living in front-line regions."We must not let (Russian President Vladimir) Putin decide when Ukrainians can choose their government," Fedorov said, adding that democracy is "part of what we are fighting for today."Fedorov became one of Ukraine's most popular government officials during his tenure as defense minister, overseeing major reforms and high-profile initiatives aimed at strengthening the military. His proposals won support among many Ukrainians, making his dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-July a surprise to much of the public.His dismissal was followed by protests in cities across Ukraine, which are still ongoing.But his call for elections is hugely controversial, not least because of the difficulties involved in holding them during wartime.Protesters hold placards as they demonstrate for a reform of the defence sector and to demand the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov in central Kyiv on Aug. 14, 2026 (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images)Russia's constant targeting of Ukrainian population centers across the country in bomb, missile, and drone attacks makes providing a "safe" voting experience next to impossible while the war is ongoing, adding to the challenge of arranging voting facilities for soldiers serving on the front lines and the millions who fled abroad.The Kyiv Independent asked four serving members of Ukraine's military and one veteran what they thought of Fedorov's video.Officer at Ukraine's Defense Ministry speaking on condition of anonymityIn terms of my reaction — surprise and shock. And a bit of outrage, because this was clearly an attempt to legitimize in the public discourse the marginalized and taboo topic of holding elections under martial law.I think that in his address, (Fedorov) was actually hinting more at parliamentary elections, because legally we are a parliamentary-presidential republic, and parliament does indeed have a lot of powers; it's just that it lacks real agency.Many of our electoral districts are occupied, there would be a shortage of MPs, and so on — all of that clearly works against holding parliamentary elections.Do I want elections? Yes. The issue is long overdue, and that's true at every level. Is it possible to hold them? No, no, and absolutely not. And the problem is not just security. It's also that a large number of people either won't be able to vote for objective reasons or won't be able to run for office and campaign properly.We often talk about fairness for military personnel, so don't take away their right to vote or run for office, at least. Otherwise, you're forcing soldiers on the front line to vote for candidates who are sitting safely in the rear and have the ability to run a normal campaign. That would be yet another injustice to them.I think the reasonable, rational part of society understands the risks of holding elections during wartime, which is why they don't support it. But the other part of society can easily be whipped up by various bloggers and Telegram channels, and they will start supporting the idea of holding elections.It's very important to me to vote in the next election. But the more time goes by, the more I get the impression that the candidates I'd be willing to support will never win anywhere.Artem Kariakin, a soldier of the Ukrainian Armed ForcesTo be honest, those of us on the front line are watching all these processes with a certain degree of irony. When a 10-inch (first-person view) FPV drone carrying a huge anti-tank munition strapped to it with duct tape explodes near you, while somewhere that seems not so far away, people are thinking about elections, it feels like two completely different worlds.Personally, I have nothing against democracy in any of its forms, but there are two things I don't understand:Firstly, how can these elections actually be held while ensuring the safety of everyone involved? A digital option raises concerns about trust and credibility.Secondly, what would new people in power actually change when it comes to the main thing happening in our country right now — the war?Mykhailo Fedorov, then-Minister of Defence of Ukraine in ____ on June 18, 2026. (Roman Pashkovskiy / Mykhailo Fedorov’s team)