Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov urged the president to reveal whether he was aware of alleged corruption in his inner circle during a BBC interview.
Fedorov, who served as a key architect of Ukraine’s drone-driven warfare and was dismissed in July after a clash with the armed forces chief, made the call as part of a broader push for fresh democratic elections, which have been stalled since the 2022 Russian invasion.
He said there was no personal evidence that President Volodymyr Zelensky had engaged in illegal activity, but insisted that the state must answer allegations that any high‑level officers may have been part of a money‑laundering scheme uncovered last week. The probe, focused on lawmakers and bankers who allegedly directed more than $3 million to pay bail for a former energy minister, has intensified scrutiny on Ukraine’s political elite.
Fedorov also criticised bureaucratic delays in arms deliveries, citing the UK’s support that, despite significant funding, supply chains remain lagging behind the realities on the front.
He spoke of his continuing commitment to modernise Ukraine’s defence capabilities, including plans for a trip to the United States to meet Elon Musk about expanding Starlink satellite use for Ukrainian strikes without allowing Kremlin access.
In the interview, Fedorov listed his call for elections as "the best way to protect democracy,” arguing that without an electoral process Ukraine would lose its democratic identity. President Zelensky has warned that wartime elections would pose extreme risks for the country, a claim that Fedorov disputed.
