Zelensky has ‘questions to answer’ on corruption, says sacked minister
Dan Johnson, Ukraine correspondent, Kyiv
Fedorov asked about Ukraine government corruption claims
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has "questions to answer" about corruption in his government, his sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has told the BBC.
Fedorov, a popular minister who modernised the armed forces and pioneered drone warfare, was fired last month after reportedly falling out with the head of Ukraine’s armed forces. He spoke to the BBC about a money laundering investigation announced last week that raises questions about Zelensky’s awareness of potential corruption in his inner circle.
Fedorov also reiterated his previous statement that "democracy should not be the hostage of Putin" but did not directly declare political ambitions, despite posting a video days earlier calling for elections in Ukraine.
Sacked Ukrainian defence minister calls for presidential election
Supporters have protested on Kyiv’s streets weekly since his sacking, demanding the president reinstate him.
When asked if 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. The protests ended on Wednesday after Fedorov’s replacement was confirmed, following his YouTube video calling for political reform.
Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, meaning elections are suspended. However, Fedorov asserted it is his "moral right" to initiate conversations about elections, stating, "We should not be afraid of discussing [it]. That’s what democracy is all about."
He continued, "If I cannot share my ideas and be open about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?"
In a video statement earlier, Fedorov argued that "people cannot endlessly live in a state where they do not understand why certain decisions are made". Yet, he avoided direct criticism of the president and declined to answer if he supports Zelensky’s re-election.
Fedorov’s video highlighting political corruption last week coincided with the announcement of a money laundering investigation into lawmakers and bankers. Ukraine’s anti-corruption bureau revealed a scheme to misappropriate over $3 million in Ukrainian currency to pay bail for a former energy minister accused of money laundering. A senior official in Zelensky’s office, allegedly involved, was subsequently sacked.
