Zelenskyy rejects sacked minister's call for wartime elections amid domestic pressure

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined a phone call from former Interior Minister Oleksandr Yermak, who had been dismissed earlier this year amid accusations of mismanaging security operations. Yermak, who had been in office for just over a year, had reportedly urged the president to hold nationwide elections during the ongoing conflict, citing the need for democratic legitimacy and public support. The call, which Zelenskyy said he received in the early hours, was answered with a brief refusal, as the president reiterated that any electoral process would be postponed until the war’s conclusion.

The dismissal of Yermak followed a series of investigations into alleged corruption and operational failures within the interior ministry, leading to his removal by the Verkhovna Rada. Zelenskyy’s administration has maintained that wartime elections would be impractical and could undermine national security. The president’s refusal to entertain the former minister’s proposal was seen as a reaffirmation of the current policy that postpones elections until a post‑conflict period can be established.

Observers note that the decision underscores the Ukrainian leadership’s focus on maintaining stability amid ongoing hostilities. While the call was brief, it highlighted the tension between democratic aspirations and security concerns in a country still engaged in active combat. The administration remains committed to the eventual conduct of elections once peace is restored.