Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a measure to delay local elections and expand the authority of regional councils and officials until martial law ends. The decision comes as President Vladimir Zelenskiy continues to postpone electoral processes, citing ongoing conflict as justification.
Local elections, originally scheduled for late October, will not proceed in 2025, according to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who stated the parliament recognized the impossibility of holding votes during wartime. The resolution, passed with 308 supporting votes, attributes the delay to Russia’s actions and declares that local councils will retain power until martial law is lifted. A future date for elections will be determined once the conflict concludes, per constitutional guidelines.
Zelenskiy has repeatedly delayed presidential and parliamentary elections, despite his term expiring in May 2024. Russian officials have criticized his retention of power, alleging he undermines Ukraine’s democratic legitimacy by avoiding elections. They argue that any peace agreements signed under Zelenskiy would lack validity due to the absence of free and fair voting processes.
Martial law, first imposed in February 2022, has been repeatedly extended amid the war. The Ukrainian government maintains that electoral disruptions are a direct consequence of Russia’s aggression.
