Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 22, 2026, publicly rejected calls to hold elections during the ongoing war with Russia, calling them a "huge risk" that would split the country like a "tsunami" [1, 2]. Zelensky held his first briefing with journalists in months amid political turmoil, including the recent dismissal of former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov [1, 3, 4].

Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, with wartime polls legally prohibited under Ukrainian law [5, 6, 7]. Despite pressure from some, including Fedorov, to hold votes during the conflict, Zelensky and most experts say it is impractical and dangerously divisive [1, 3, 5, 2]. Fedorov, who was dismissed in July 2026 after clashing with military commanders, argued democracy should not be “a hostage of Putin” and questioned whether Russia should dictate Ukraine's election timing [8, 6]. Zelensky criticized Fedorov’s stance, saying, "I believe he is going himself – or is being pushed – toward wrong things" [1].

Public support for elections before hostilities end remains low. A recent Kyiv Institute and International Institute of Sociology poll found just 15% of Ukrainians back holding wartime polls [1, 9]. Zelensky warned that elections now would amount to destroying the country, saying, "If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war" [2].

The political crisis followed Fedorov’s July dismissal, which sparked protests demanding his reinstatement. These ended on August 19 after the appointment of his successor [8, 9]. Zelensky reportedly offered Fedorov four alternative government roles after firing him, but Fedorov declined all [10, 11]. Known for championing drone warfare and reforms, Fedorov also accused Zelensky’s government of tolerating corruption but did not personally accuse the president [8].

On security issues, Zelensky announced deals for 600 Patriot missile interceptors from Germany to arrive in 2027-28 to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks [2]. He also stated Ukrainian forces have nearly fully reclaimed the Dnipropetrovsk region, with only about 10 square kilometers still under Russian control [4, 11].

Russia plans to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops after its parliamentary election in September 2026, raising concerns about the war's duration [2]. Zelensky also attributed a recent diplomatic embarrassment involving former U.S. President Trump and the use of Starlink satellites against Russia to inaccurate information from Ukraine’s Defence Ministry [4, 11].

With no elections scheduled during wartime, Zelensky’s statements underscore Kyiv’s position that polls will occur only after hostilities end. The political debate over elections is likely to continue once the security situation stabilizes.