Ukrainian official on holding elections during war: I do not see ways to hold them

He made the statement on the United News telethon.

"As for the elections, I can say that I do not understand how elections can be held during the war. Keep in mind that there are people who are in the trenches, on the front line. How are those who think that elections should be held going to involve all the people? Are you going to hold elections without the people wearing ‘pixel’*?" Danilov said.

The NSDC Secretary noted that the issue of elections during the war should be approached with caution.

"The ‘pixel’ time that we have today, the rules of the ‘pixel’, the laws of the ‘pixel’... We have to pay attention to this and understand that they (the military - ed.) are citizens of our country and they must participate in this. I don't know who can imagine that the fate of Ukraine can be decided without them. It's impossible... If the people who are defending our country do not participate in the elections, I want to see what kind of elections they will be. Keep in mind that we are a country in which civil society always has its say at a crucial time for the country," he added.

* Ukrainian military uniform features a pixel pattern.

The issue of elections during the war

In May, the head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox, stated that free and fair elections should be held in Ukraine despite the war. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Danilov responded categorically, "There can be no elections, including presidential and parliamentary, in Ukraine during martial law."

On July 28, speaker of the Ukrainian government, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said that the Constitution of Ukraine does not prohibit holding elections during martial law, but that a balance must be struck.