Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that holding elections during the ongoing war would destabilize the country, describing such a move as a 'tsunami' that would divide the state. Speaking at a conference in Kyiv on June 27, 2025, Zelenskiy stated his strategy prioritizes ending the conflict and preserving Ukraine's independence over electoral processes.
The remarks follow renewed debate after former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a longtime ally, publicly called for wartime elections last week—the first such demand from a major Ukrainian politician since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Fedorov's dismissal in July sparked protests, though his supporters opposed his electoral push. He has not confirmed whether he would run in future elections.
A poll conducted by the International Institute of Sociology of Kiev on August 5, 2026, found 57% of Ukrainians oppose holding elections before the fighting concludes. Zelenskiy's approval rating remains stable at around 60%, according to the survey. Ukrainian law explicitly prohibits elections during wartime, with concerns including security risks for voters, millions displaced abroad, those under Russian occupation, and soldiers on the front lines.
Zelenskiy reiterated that elections under current conditions would serve Russian interests by undermining state cohesion. 'If we want to destroy the country, then we can move forward with elections during this type of war,' he said.
