President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that holding an election while Ukraine fights Russia's invasion would be too dangerous, following a call by his former defense minister to organize a vote.

Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a measure widely supported by the population as the country focuses on fighting the 2022 Russian invasion.

"I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.

"If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war," Zelenskyy, 48, who became president in 2019, added.

He made the comments Saturday in a briefing with journalists, including Agence France-Presse (AFP), his first in months amid several political crises.

Thousands took to the streets after Zelenskyy fired popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the latest upheaval.

This week, the ousted Fedorov surprisingly called for elections – without offering a roadmap and prompting even some supporters to distance themselves.

Experts cite obstacles to elections, including how soldiers, millions of Ukrainian refugees and people from occupied territories would vote and disinformation threats from Russia.

Dangerous Developments

The election call also came as Ukraine struggles to fend off daily Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other cities.

Only 15% of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before hostilities end, according to a Kyiv Institute of Sociology poll.

Zelenskyy jabbed at Fedorov during the briefing, which preceded events Monday to mark the country's Independence Day, with several international leaders present. Allies also plan talks on bolstering Ukraine's air defenses amid intense Russian strikes.

"I believe he is going himself – or being pushed – toward wrong things," Zelenskyy said of Fedorov.

The former minister backed the drone warfare strategy that dominates the war with Russia and pushed for army reforms. But he clashed with the military command and its traditionally stiff approach.

Much of the Ukrainian public initially sided with Fedorov and pushed for the dismissal of commander in chief Oleksandr Syrsky.

Zelenskyy said people had the right to protest but warned against "disrespectful" attitudes toward service members.

"Since when has marketing outweighed those giving their lives?" he said.

Zelenskyy sought to cast himself as a rampart against division.

"I believe society and soldiers must not be divided," he said. "We must acknowledge this risk – movement toward dangerous developments."