Uncertain Ukrainian General Election, Martial Law Extended Until August 6 Due to Intensified War — MP Zheleznyak
According to an Al Jazeera report, in response to ongoing Russian attacks, Ukraine’s parliament has extended martial law and military mobilization for another three months, meaning these wartime measures will remain in effect until at least August 6.
Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak confirmed that the proposal to extend martial law passed by a vote of 357–1, while the proposal to continue troop mobilization passed 356–1.
Under Ukraine’s constitution, no national elections can be held while martial law is in effect — a rule that remains in place despite calls from the international community, including Russia and the United States, for Ukraine to set a timeline for elections.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose five-year term technically ended in May of last year. He has even proposed the idea of a UN-backed transitional government to guide Ukraine toward holding elections.
In response to the extension of martial law, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Kyiv of being “desperate to preserve its uncertain structure.”
Meanwhile, in February, former U.S. President Donald Trump referred to Zelensky as a “dictator without elections,” a statement that ironically bolstered domestic solidarity around the Ukrainian leader and boosted his popularity. While peace talks led by the Trump administration have raised hopes for a ceasefire and future elections, Ukraine’s opposition parties have grown more vocal in criticizing Zelensky. Nevertheless, there is still widespread national support for maintaining martial law.
Former President and main opposition leader Petro Poroshenko told parliament, “There is no doubt that martial law should be extended, but the government is also using it not just for national security, but to consolidate power and enforce authoritarian rule.”
Uncertainty Around Ceasefire on Energy Facility Strikes
During the parliamentary vote, intense fighting and airstrikes continued across the Russia-Ukraine warfront. In a Russian drone attack on the Black Sea coastal city of Odesa, three people were injured and several homes damaged. In Kherson, Russian shelling killed at least one person in the morning.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine had launched six attacks on its energy infrastructure, despite a 30-day ceasefire agreement on such strikes. That agreement expires on Wednesday, and it remains uncertain whether it will be extended.
When asked by reporters, Peskov said, “We will inform you in due time. We are not ready to announce any decision at the moment.”
