Kyiv, Aug 2026 : A majority of Ukrainians want national elections to be held only after the war with Russia ends, according to a recent poll, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that conducting a vote while active fighting continues could deepen divisions within the country.
Zelenskiy’s remarks, released to reporters on Sunday, were his first public comments on wartime elections since former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for an election during the ongoing conflict. The demand marked a significant political development, as major Ukrainian political figures have generally avoided advocating elections since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelenskiy strongly opposed the idea of holding a vote while the war continues, saying such a move could seriously damage national unity.
“I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections during this kind of war,” Zelenskiy said.
Under Ukrainian law, elections cannot currently be conducted while martial law remains in force. Analysts have also highlighted major practical and security challenges, including the millions of Ukrainians living abroad, territories under Russian occupation and large numbers of citizens serving on the front lines.
Poll Shows Preference for Post-War Elections
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, in a poll conducted on August 5, found that 57 per cent of Ukrainians preferred elections to be held only after the fighting ends.
Zelenskiy said elections during wartime could potentially be considered if Ukraine’s international partners were able to provide credible security guarantees. However, he said no such concrete proposal had been presented so far.
He warned that holding elections under current circumstances could create political divisions and weaken the country at a critical moment.
“Elections right now are a tsunami for the state, which will split Ukraine,” he said, adding that his priority was to guide the country towards an end to the war while preserving Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state.
Zelenskiy’s approval rating has remained relatively stable at around 60 per cent, although polling organisations have indicated that Ukrainians are interested in political change but remain reluctant to hold elections while the conflict continues.
The debate intensified following Fedorov’s unexpected dismissal last month. His removal triggered protests, with some supporters initially demanding his reinstatement. However, those backing him later appeared hesitant about his proposal for wartime elections.
Fedorov, who has been a longtime ally of Zelenskiy and is regarded by some as a potential political challenger, has not indicated whether he would contest any future presidential election.
The issue is likely to remain politically sensitive as Ukraine continues to seek an end to the conflict while balancing democratic processes with national security and wartime realities.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
