“Elections are a tsunami for the state,” corruption scandals in the Presidential Office, and Fedorov’s resignation: Highlights from Zelenskyy’s statements

Elections During Wartime as a “Tsunami for the State”

The president emphasized that the idea of holding elections under current conditions poses critical risks to Ukraine’s very existence. According to him, about a year ago, Western partners raised this issue, but none of them offered concrete proposals that would guarantee the safety of the military, residents of frontline territories, and millions of refugees abroad.

Zelenskyy stressed that holding an election is impossible as long as Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire.

Corruption Scandals in the Office of the President and the Dismissal of a Deputy

Commenting on the investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) regarding Iryna Mudra, the deputy head of the Office of the President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the details made public were sufficient to justify personnel decisions.

The head of state added that the heads of anti-corruption agencies have no questions for him, since “they understand perfectly well that he has nothing to do with such matters.” At the same time, the president noted that personnel changes in the Presidential Office should not become an end in themselves, given the country’s shortage of qualified personnel.

The Conflict with Syrsky and the Resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov

The head of state revealed details for the first time regarding the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of defense minister. According to him, the reason was a “very serious” conflict between the head of the Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, over overlapping areas of responsibility.

Zelenskyy explained that the Ministry of Defense is responsible for supplying the troops, while the management of operations is the exclusive domain of the military. However, the officials stopped communicating directly and resorted to bureaucratic red tape. Following the decision to change the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, the president personally offered Fedorov the opportunity to remain on the team.

The peace plan, the situation on the front lines, and Russian missiles

Touching on the topic of diplomacy, Zelenskyy reported that a one-page joint plan had been drafted together with U.S. representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. It calls for a ceasefire, the creation of a buffer free economic zone under third-party administration following the withdrawal of troops, and security guarantees. At the same time, Russia continues to demand the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donbas. According to the president’s assessment, the most favorable window for diplomacy will last from the G20 summit until the end of summer 2027.

Assessing the situation on the front lines, the president reported that since the beginning of 2026, Russia has occupied 990 square kilometers, while the Defense Forces have regained control of 820 square kilometers (in particular, the Dnipropetrovsk region has been almost completely liberated). Ukraine’s goal is to achieve parity by the end of the year. Enemy personnel losses since the beginning of the year have reached 267,000, of whom approximately 155,000 have been killed.

Regarding the enemy’s missile capabilities, Zelenskyy noted that Russia has 600–630 ballistic missiles at its disposal and is striving to increase production to 100 units per month. However, Ukrainian forces are taking measures to thwart large-scale attacks and have already destroyed one “Iskander” system near the border.

A $27 billion shortfall in the Ministry of Defense and the threat of ballistic missiles

Speaking about the key challenges facing the state, Zelenskyy highlighted two major issues: Russian ballistic missile strikes and the financial support of Ukraine’s defense. Specifically, a $27 billion deficit has formed in the Ministry of Defense’s budget. This occurred due to a decision made at the beginning of the year to redirect funds intended for the second half of the year toward priority needs, particularly the mass production of drones.

Of this amount, nearly $20 billion is needed for military pay, payments to the families of the fallen, and other social programs. An additional $8 to $10 billion is needed in advance to ensure a stable supply of weapons and all necessary equipment for the army by the beginning of next year.

To cover these needs, Ukraine is counting on 30 billion euros from the European Union, which is contingent on the passage of relevant legislation. In this context, the president called on the entire parliament, including the opposition, to unite, as these funds are needed to defend the entire country. In addition, Ukraine is negotiating with France and Germany to expedite the disbursement of the second tranche of the planned European aid.

Strikes on Wildberries in Response to Terror and Public Sentiment in Russia

The President also commented on the Defense Forces’ strikes against Russian logistics, specifically against the company Wildberries, in response to the Russian Federation’s systematic attacks on civilian facilities, “Ukrposhta,” and “Nova Poshta.” Zelenskyy emphasized that Wildberries supplies military goods and generates enormous profits for the Russian budget.

According to the head of state, this was a carefully calculated operation: Russia’s direct losses amount to about one trillion rubles, and when taking into account the company’s debts, related losses, and the need to restructure its operations—up to 3 trillion rubles.

Zelenskyy added that such operations also have a social impact within the Russian Federation, where over 60% of the population already supports ending the war. Against the backdrop of falling approval ratings for the Kremlin and the rise in popularity of the opposition party “Yabloko” from 3–4% to 11–12%, the party was removed from the election to deprive Russian society of any alternative to the war.

Search for Missiles for Patriot Systems for the Winter

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine’s air defense has significantly improved its track record in shooting down enemy cruise missiles thanks to the deployment of combat aircraft, IRIS-T systems, and Hawk air defense systems; however, protection against ballistic missiles remains the most challenging task.

To protect infrastructure during the winter, the Ukrainian Air Force has requested 360 missiles for Patriot systems, while the head of state is seeking to secure at least 300 units. Since global annual production of these missiles is approximately 600 units, obtaining such a quantity is extremely difficult. In light of this, Ukraine is negotiating with partners and hopes to purchase 5–10% of the U.S.’s available stockpiles, which would allow the U.S. to replenish its own arsenals and enable Ukraine to successfully get through the winter.

As a reminder, the criminal group laundered 150 million hryvnias in cash to pay bail for a defendant in the “Midas” case, who was released from custody on June 29, 2026, thanks to these funds.