Ukrainian lawmakers have passed legislation to delay local elections and expand the authority of regional councils and officials until martial law is lifted. The decision, approved by 308 deputies with no votes against and one abstention, effectively postpones local elections originally scheduled for October 2025. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated on Telegram that holding elections during wartime is “impossible,” citing concerns over democratic standards and voter safety.
The resolution attributes the delay to Russia’s ongoing conflict and asserts that local councils and mayors will retain power until martial law ends. It claims a future decision on new elections will follow Ukraine’s constitution and electoral laws once hostilities cease. Martial law, first imposed in February 2022, has been repeatedly extended.
Zelenskiy has long justified the postponement of presidential and parliamentary elections by citing the war. His term officially expired in May 2024, but he has remained in office, arguing that elections cannot occur under martial law. Russian officials have condemned Zelenskiy’s actions, claiming he lacks legitimacy and seeks to maintain power at the expense of Ukraine’s citizens. They argue any peace agreement signed under his leadership would be legally invalid due to the absence of free elections.
