It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Since February 2022, our screens have been filled with images of front lines, drone footage, and diplomatic summits. But before the full-scale invasion turned everything upside down, Ukraine was a country with a loud, messy, and incredibly vibrant democracy. Honestly, if you're trying to remember when was the last election in Ukraine, you have to look back to a pre-war world that almost feels like fiction now.
The short answer? 2019.
But it wasn't just one day at the polls. It was a massive political earthquake that saw a TV comedian—literally a guy who played a president on a sitcom—become the actual leader of a nation of 40 million people.
The 2019 Presidential Election: A Landslide Like No Other
The last time Ukrainians went to the polls to choose their president was in the spring of 2019. It was a two-round affair.
The first round happened on March 31, 2019. There were 39 candidates on the ballot. Think about that for a second. Thirty-nine! It was a chaotic list of billionaires, seasoned politicians, and activists. Out of that crowd, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, emerged as the top two.
Then came the runoff on April 21, 2019. This is the date that changed history.
Zelenskyy didn't just win; he obliterated the competition. He took roughly 73.2% of the vote. Poroshenko, meanwhile, managed only around 24.5%. It was a rejection of the "old guard" so thorough that it left political analysts across Europe scratching their heads. Zelenskyy’s party, "Servant of the People" (named after his show), didn’t even really exist a year prior.
Don't Forget the Parliament (The Rada)
A few months later, on July 21, 2019, Ukraine held snap parliamentary elections. Zelenskyy wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and it worked. His party won an absolute majority—the first time that had ever happened in modern Ukrainian history.
Usually, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) is a jigsaw puzzle of coalitions and backroom deals. Not this time. Zelenskyy basically had a "mono-majority," giving him unprecedented power to pass laws.
The Local Elections of 2020: The Final Pre-War Vote
If we’re being technical about "last," the very last time the whole country voted was actually for local offices. On October 25, 2020, Ukrainians chose mayors and local council members.
This was a different vibe. The "Zelenskyy fever" had cooled off a bit. Local powerhouses and established city mayors held their ground. It showed that while people loved the new president, they still trusted local "fixers" to handle the trash and the roads. Turnout was lower, about 37%, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why Hasn't There Been an Election Lately?
This is where it gets complicated. By the book, Ukraine should have had a parliamentary election in October 2023 and a presidential election in March 2024.
Neither happened.
📖 Related: The Martin Luther King Death Scene: What Really Happened on that Memphis Balcony
The reason is pretty straightforward but legally heavy: Martial Law.
When Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, Ukraine declared martial law. It’s been extended every 90 days since then. Under the Ukrainian Constitution (specifically Article 83) and the Law on the Legal Regime of Martial Law, national elections are strictly prohibited while the country is under this status.
The Logic Behind the Delay
It’s not just about "rules." It’s about reality.
- Displaced People: As of early 2026, millions of Ukrainians are still living as refugees across Europe or are internally displaced. How do you let them vote fairly?
- The Front Line: Hundreds of thousands of soldiers are in trenches. You can't exactly set up a ballot box in a dugout under artillery fire.
- Security: Imagine a crowded polling station in Kyiv or Kharkiv. For Russia, that’s not a democratic site; it’s a target.
- Occupied Territory: About 18% of Ukraine is currently under Russian occupation. Those people would be completely cut off from the vote.
There’s a broad consensus in Ukraine right now. A poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) recently showed that the vast majority of Ukrainians think elections should wait until after the war. Even Zelenskyy’s political rivals, like Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko, signed a memorandum in late 2023 agreeing that voting during wartime would tear the country apart.
The 2026 "Trump Pressure" and the Current Debate
Lately, the conversation has shifted. With the geopolitical landscape changing—especially with pressure from the U.S. and some European allies—there’s been talk about "wartime elections."
In December 2025, Zelenskyy even mentioned he was "ready" to hold them if security could be guaranteed by partners. But "ready" and "able" are two different things. Most experts, including those at the German Marshall Fund, argue that the logistical nightmare of updating voter registries and ensuring the safety of millions of voters makes a 2026 vote unlikely unless a ceasefire or major security shift occurs.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume Zelenskyy is just "staying in power" because he likes it. But it's actually the opposite. His term technically "expired" in May 2024, but the law says he stays in office until a successor is inaugurated. This is called "continuity of power." If he stepped down without an election, there would be a power vacuum that would be a gift to the Kremlin.
Actionable Insights: What Happens Next?
If you're watching the news and wondering when the "next" election will actually be, here are the indicators you should look for:
✨ Don't miss: Most Wanted in Alabama: Why Some Fugitives Stay Under the Radar
- The Lifting of Martial Law: This is the big one. Keep an eye on the 90-day extensions by the Verkhovna Rada. If they stop extending it, an election clock starts (usually 60 to 90 days after).
- The "Diia" App Developments: Ukraine has an incredibly advanced government app called Diia. There is talk about using it for digital voting to reach refugees. If you see news about "e-voting" security upgrades, it means they are prepping for a post-war or high-risk election.
- CEC Budgeting: Watch the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine. When they start asking for a massive budget increase to "restore voter registries," that’s the smoke before the fire.
Basically, Ukraine’s democracy is on "pause," but it’s not dead. It’s a survival mechanism. Until the missiles stop falling and the millions of people who fled can safely have their voices heard, the 2019 results remain the last official word on who leads the country.
Stay tuned to official updates from the Central Election Commission of Ukraine and reputable international monitors like OSCE/ODIHR, who will be the ones to ultimately validate when the country is ready to head back to the ballot box.