Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov opened a new front in the country’s sharpening political scene on Tuesday, calling for new elections despite the continuing war with Russia.

Fedorov, a popular reformer credited with modernizing Ukraine’s government and expanding its military drone program, had served as one of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s most prominent ministers before his dismissal last month. In a nine-minute video address, the former defense minister argued that Ukrainians should not allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to determine when they can choose their government. “Democracy is not a peacetime luxury,” he said. “Democracy is part of what we are fighting for today.”