Zelensky Warns Wartime Elections Could ‘Split Ukraine’
Ukrainian president says holding an election while fighting Russia would pose a major risk to national unity
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that holding elections while the country remains at war with Russia would pose a serious threat to national unity, rejecting a call from his former defense minister to find a way to organize a vote.
“I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine,” Zelensky said Saturday in a briefing with journalists, including AFP, with his remarks made public on Sunday.
“If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war,” added Zelensky, who was elected president in 2019.
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law, a policy that remains broadly supported by the population as the country continues to fight Russia’s military operations, which began in February 2022.
Fedorov calls for elections
Zelensky’s comments followed a surprise call by former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to find a way to hold elections despite the ongoing war. Fedorov did not provide a detailed roadmap for organizing a vote, and some of his supporters have distanced themselves from the proposal.
The dispute comes amid growing political tensions in Ukraine, including public protests following Zelensky’s decision to remove Fedorov from his position.
Experts have identified numerous practical and security challenges to holding elections during the war. These include determining how millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad would vote, how soldiers serving on the front lines would participate, and whether residents of Russian-occupied territories could safely cast ballots.
There are also concerns that Russia could exploit an election campaign through disinformation and other forms of interference.
Only 15 percent of Ukrainians believe elections should be held before the end of hostilities, according to a poll by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology.
Zelensky warns against division
The debate over elections comes as Ukraine continues to face daily Russian missile and drone attacks targeting Kyiv and other cities.
Zelensky used Saturday’s briefing to criticize Fedorov, saying the former minister was moving toward what he described as “wrong things.”
Fedorov had been a prominent advocate of Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy and pushed for military reforms, but he also clashed with military commanders over their approach to the war.
His dismissal initially triggered public anger, with some Ukrainians calling for the removal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky.
Zelensky said Ukrainians had the right to protest but warned against attitudes that could undermine the military.
“Since when has marketing started to outweigh the people who are giving their lives?” he said.
The president also sought to present himself as a defender of national unity, warning that political divisions could become increasingly dangerous while the war continues.
“I believe that society and soldiers must not be divided,” Zelensky said. “We must acknowledge that there is this risk that there may be movement in that direction, toward dangerous developments.”