Fake or reality: what is known about election plans in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not instruct his team to prepare for elections this summer, despite claims made in a The Economist article.

This was reported by BBC Ukraine sources in the government and the President’s Office, who called the publication “fake or manipulative.”

The Economist had earlier claimed that Zelensky allegedly held a meeting during which he instructed preparations for elections after a possible ceasefire, expected after April 20. According to the publication, the vote could take place as early as July.

However, the President’s Office told the BBC: “There was no such meeting, and no orders were given to prepare for elections.” According to them, achieving peace remains the government’s top priority, and talks about elections are currently premature. They also assessed the likelihood of the war ending by Easter (April 20) as low.

The BBC also spoke with a representative of former President Petro Poroshenko’s team. He agreed that elections in the near future are unlikely, but emphasized the political pressure being exerted on the leader of European Solidarity. According to The Economist, Poroshenko himself considers elections possible sometime between August and October.

Head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Oleh Didenko, previously stated that Ukraine would need significant time to prepare for elections, along with legislative changes. The CEC is required to call parliamentary elections within a month of martial law ending, and the campaign would take at least 60 days. Presidential elections would require up to 90 days.

Elections during wartime remain a serious challenge: destroyed infrastructure, millions of displaced persons, and active military personnel on the front lines raise questions about the feasibility of a proper democratic process. Analyst Kostiantyn Donchenko of the NGO OPORA, in his article “What Could Go Wrong: Challenges for Organizing Future Elections”, stressed that elections are only possible with ensured security, restoration of voter rolls, and the organization of voting for all citizens — including those abroad.