Zelensky should be asked what he knew about government corruption, sacked minister tells BBC

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 told the BBC a money laundering investigation announced last week raised questions about Zelensky's awareness of potential corruption in his inner circle.

Fedorov also reiterated that "democracy should not be the hostage of Putin" - but stopped short of declaring his own political ambitions days after he posted a video calling for elections in Ukraine.

Supporters have protested on Kyiv's streets weekly since he was sacked , calling on the president to reinstate him.

Asked whether 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, hours after he posted a video on YouTube calling for political reform.

Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, meaning elections are suspended.

But Fedorov said it was his "moral right" to start the conversation about elections.

"We should not be afraid of discussing it. That's what democracy is all about. If I cannot share my ideas and be open about them with my own society, then what are we fighting for?"

If elections were never held, he said, "then we are no longer a democracy".

In his earlier video statement Fedorov had argued that "people cannot endlessly live in a state where they do not understand why certain decisions are made".

He shied away from criticising the president directly and declined to answer whether he backs Zelensky to win any election.

Fedorov's video highlighting political corruption last week came on the same day a money laundering investigation was announced into lawmakers and bankers.