Ukraine's leader says holding elections now would 'destroy' the country

President Zelenskyy warned August 23 that elections during wartime would "destroy" Ukraine. He rejected a call from his former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov — fired in July — who on August 18 urged a wartime vote, citing corruption and a leadership crisis. Ukrainian law bans elections during war, and experts say voting while under attack is nearly impossible.