Ukraine: Zelenskyy rejects wartime elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that holding elections in his country amid the full-scale Russian invasion would be highly dangerous, in remarks made in response to a call from the former defense minister to organize a vote.

"I believe that in a war like this, elections as such are a huge risk. Elections right now are a tsunami for the country that will split Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in remarks released on Sunday.

Under martial law, elections are currently suspended in the country as it fights the invading Russian forces. The measure has wide public support.

"If we want to destroy the country, then we can move in the direction of elections during these times of war," Zelenskyy said in the firm rejection of the proposal by former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Fedorov made the call a month after being fired by Zelenskyy as defense minister .

Fedorov enjoys significant support among younger Ukrainians, thousands of whom have been calling for his reinstatement, with some saying he could seek to challenge Zelenskyy if an election did take place.

However, a recent poll showed that Zelenskyy would still be more popular as a presidential candidate.

Zelenskyy was critical of Fedorov in his remarks, saying: "I believe he is going himself — or is being pushed — toward wrong things."