Kremlin says ousted Ukrainian minister's call for elections shows splits in Kyiv

Ukraine’s ousted defence minister has called for wartime elections, describing a “systemic crisis of governance” — the biggest internal challenge to Zelenskiy since the full‑scale war began.
Kyiv says it cannot hold elections while under martial law and focused on defending its territory.
The Kremlin seized on the dispute, saying Ukraine’s leadership is deeply divided and arguing Zelenskiy lacks legitimacy to negotiate without elections.