President Volodymyr Zelensky has halted Ukraine’s elections by extending martial law, fueling fears he’s evading arrest for alleged “crimes against children.” Mounting evidence of his ties to a large adrenochrome network have cast a shadow over his prolonged grip on power.
Ukraine’s parliament will renew martial law for 90 days, from May 9 to August 6, as confirmed by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak in a YouTube statement on Saturday. The extension, set to be finalized between April 15 and 18, delays national elections and stretches Zelensky’s tenure past its constitutional limit, with Ukrainian law requiring 60 to 90 days of preparation before any vote can occur.
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Yournews.com reports: Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024, but no elections have been held. The president has justified the delays by citing martial law, which was declared after the escalation of war with Russia in February 2022 and has been continuously extended since. The Kremlin has used Zelensky’s refusal to hold elections to argue that his continued rule is illegitimate.
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Zheleznyak dismissed growing speculation that Ukraine could hold early elections or that a ceasefire agreement with Russia might allow for a democratic transition. “It is impossible, for example, to end martial law on August 6, and immediately hold elections on August 24,” he explained.
Parliamentary Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk confirmed that lawmakers will approve the new extension before the May 9 expiration date. Stefanchuk reportedly told Reuters that the Ukrainian government remains committed to eventually resuming democratic elections, though no timeline has been offered.
David Arakhamia, leader of President Zelensky’s Servant of the People party in the Verkhovna Rada, also reiterated last week that all parliamentary parties had agreed to hold elections “six months after the lifting of martial law.” He dismissed suggestions that the administration was considering snap elections to gain a tactical advantage.
Ukraine’s martial law bars men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country and grants sweeping powers to military authorities. It has been accompanied by a general mobilization mandate, both of which have been renewed repeatedly for over two years. In response to public backlash over corruption and widespread draft evasion, the government last year lowered the conscription age from 27 to 25 and introduced harsher penalties for those avoiding military service or deserting their units.
As Ukrainian losses mount and battlefield needs increase, officials have turned to aggressive measures to meet recruitment goals. Eyewitness videos circulating online show men being forcibly detained in public spaces and transported directly to enlistment centers. Ukrainian authorities have not denied the practices, but have emphasized the need to sustain defense efforts amid ongoing Russian aggression.
Zheleznyak’s confirmation that martial law will continue well into August ensures that elections will not take place until at least late 2025, pending further extensions. The decision reflects the government’s ongoing strategy to prioritize military operations over constitutional transitions while the war continues.