Zelensky in crisis as axed defence minister Fedorov demands election

Day 1,636.

Today, in a blistering attack on his former boss, ousted Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has taken aim at President Zelensky, calling out government corruption and a governance system “in crisis” and calling for fresh elections. It comes as Zelensky’s new defence minister is endorsed by parliament, but also as Ukraine’s national anti-corruption body launches dawn raids on a “high-ranking official” in the president’s office. Plus, nursery children in Russia have been held at gunpoint in government anti-terror drills and Croatian police arrest a Ukrainian man for the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline. Later, Dom speaks to Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who last weekend won gold in the high jump at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Contributors:

Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

With thanks to Olga Saladukha and Oleksiy Kasyanov of the Ukrainian Athletic Federation, and champion high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

Producer: Rachel Porter

Senior Producer: Lilian Fawcett

Video Producer: Sophie O’Sullivan and Anthony Melton

Social Producer: Natalia Makohon

Translation by Natalia Makohon

Studio Director: Meghan Searle

Executive Editor: Francis Dearnley

Created by David Knowles

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Nursery children held at gunpoint in Russian anti-terror drills (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/19/kindergarten-children-held-at-gunpoint-in-russian-drills/

Top Zelensky aide targeted in new anti-corruption investigation (Antonia Langford for The Telegraph)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/19/top-zelensky-aide-targeted-anti-corruption-investigation/

Croatia arrests Ukrainian suspected of Nord Stream sabotage, to be tried in Germany (Kyiv Independent)

https://kyivindependent.com/croatia-arrests-suspected-nord-stream-saboteur-to-be-tried-in-germany/

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Mykhailo Fedorov calls for election in blistering attack on Zelensky
• Former defence minister also claims corruption is harming Kyiv’s war effort

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