Zelensky says wartime elections would 'split' Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that wartime elections would currently be too dangerous for Ukraine, following his former defence minister's suggestion to organize a vote amid the ongoing conflict. In a public statement, Zelensky stated that elections during a war like the one Ukraine is experiencing would split the nation.

This sentiment was echoed by ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who called for wartime elections, citing a crisis of governance as the biggest internal challenge since Russia's 2022 invasion. Ukrainian law strictly prohibits holding elections during wartime, a stance Zelensky reaffirmed in his comments. Fedorov, who was once an ally of Zelensky until his unexpected dismissal from the Defence Ministry in July, argued for a legal, safe, and realistic mechanism to allow Ukraine to renew its democratic process even under the conditions of a prolonged war.

Separately, Zelensky revealed that Ukraine believes Russia is planning to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops for its ongoing war effort following parliamentary elections in September. He also mentioned the possibility of Russia drafting hundreds of thousands more soldiers in 2027 as part of its objective to capture Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.