Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ruled out holding wartime elections on Saturday, warning that a national vote would trigger a political tsunami and fracture the country from within as Russian forces continue their relentless bombardment.
The decision comes in response to mounting pressure from Mykhailo Fedorov, a former defense minister who recently floated the idea of organizing a ballot. Zelenskyy dismissed the proposal during a press briefing, arguing that conducting a democratic election while martial law remains active poses an existential threat to national defense.
“I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk,” Zelenskyy said during the briefing.
“Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine,” he added.
Political tensions in Kyiv have escalated over the summer following the dismissal of Fedorov, a popular official who previously spearheaded Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy. The cabinet shakeup, which also forced out the country’s military commander-in-chief, drew thousands of protesters into the streets demanding reinstatements.
Speculation surrounding Fedorov’s political ambitions intensified after the ousted minister publicly called for a path toward elections, though he stopped short of declaring a direct presidential challenge against Zelenskyy. Fedorov’s team confirmed that the former minister plans to visit the United States soon.
Staging a national vote presents severe logistical hurdles. Millions of Ukrainian refugees currently reside abroad, vast territories remain under Russian occupation, and active combat zones make physical safety impossible for voters and election workers alike.
Public sentiment heavily favors delaying the democratic process until hostilities cease. An opinion poll indicates that only 15 percent of Ukrainians believe elections should take place before the war ends.
Zelenskyy has previously faced similar pressure from international leaders, including United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, to organize a vote despite daily missile and drone attacks.
To shore up defenses amid the domestic friction, Zelenskyy met with European leaders in Kyiv for a Nordic-Baltic summit. After discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the Ukrainian leader announced a new bilateral drone deal to increase domestic manufacturing and military cooperation.
Norway has pledged 85 billion Norwegian krone, equivalent to $12.5 billion, to support Ukraine through next year.
The diplomatic meetings precede a critical gathering on Monday, when Ukraine’s primary European allies will convene to address severe military shortages. Ukraine faces an acute deficit of interceptor missiles for its US-supplied Patriot air-defense systems, with deliveries dropping by half since 2023.
The United States faces its own supply constraints amid military commitments elsewhere, limiting its ability to transfer large inventories to Kyiv. The resulting air-defense gap has left major cities vulnerable to hard-to-intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
United Nations statistics show that civilian casualties in the four-and-a-half-year conflict have surged to their highest levels since the initial months of the 2022 invasion, driven by intensified aerial strikes.
In response to the missile deficit, Ukraine has accelerated long-range strikes targeting Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, hitting an e-commerce warehouse belonging to Russian retailer Ozon for the second day on Sunday.
European backers are scheduled to meet on Monday, Ukraine’s independence day, to discuss immediate strategies for countering Russia’s intensifying missile campaign.
