Ukraine parliament votes on defense minister as former official urges wartime elections
Ukraine's parliament prepares to vote on a new defense minister as dismissed official Mykhailo Fedorov calls for wartime elections amid Russian missile strikes.
Ukraine's parliament is set to vote on confirming Yevhenii Khmara as the new defense minister following the abrupt dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov. After his removal, Fedorov publicly urged the creation of legal mechanisms to hold elections during wartime, asserting that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." The call for elections coincides with anti-corruption investigations into individuals connected to the presidency.
Meanwhile, a major Russian aerial attack utilizing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones killed at least 13 people and injured 40 across several Ukrainian regions, including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that rescue operations continued through the night. Ukrainian forces responded by launching retaliatory drone strikes toward Moscow, several of which were intercepted.
Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.
How outlets assessed this
- Aug 29, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
- Corriere della Sera Alarmed Framed Zelensky as politically encircled by anti-corruption probes and rising domestic demands for elections.
- Il Messaggero Skeptical Cast Mykhailo Fedorov as an emerging political challenger positioning himself against Zelensky's leadership.
Sources
- La Repubblica — Guerra Ucraina - Russia, le news di oggi. Fedorov chiede elezioni: “Democrazia non può essere ostaggio di Mosca”
- Corriere della Sera — Zelensky «accerchiato»: blitz anticorruzione contro un gruppo legato a lui e Fedorov chiede di andare al voto. Nuova ondata di droni ucraini su Mosca
- ANSA — Ucraina, raid russo notturno su Kiev, Zelensky: 'Tredici morti e 40 feriti'
- Il Messaggero — Chi è Mykhailo Fedorov, ?l'anti Zelensky? che chiede le elezioni anticipate: il ruolo nella guerra tecnologica e il licenziamento improvviso
Earlier coverage
- Oct 16, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCEU warns Moscow after drone incidents as Russia targets Ukrainian energy
- Oct 16, 2026, 05:30 PM UTCEU warns against Russian hybrid threats as strikes hit Kyiv and energy targets
- Oct 16, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCEU warns Moscow over hybrid threats as Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv
- Oct 16, 2026, 12:30 PM UTCRussian strikes target Kyiv as EU warns Moscow over hybrid threats
- Oct 16, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCEU vows response to alleged Russian sabotage as Kyiv faces fresh drone strikes
- Oct 16, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCGerman police identify Russian-linked suspects over Leipzig drone discovery
- Oct 16, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCRussia targets Kyiv with drones as EU warns against acts of sabotage on its soil
- Oct 16, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCRussia launches new campaign against Ukrainian energy grid as Kyiv comes under drone attack
- Oct 16, 2026, 12:30 AM UTCGerman authorities identify suspects in Leipzig drone incident as EU warns Moscow
- Oct 15, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCEuropean Union warns Russia over covert operations as strikes target Kyiv and Russian energy sites