Election fight cracks political unity in Ukraine as Russia bombards Kyiv

Election fight cracks political unity in Ukraine as Russia bombards Kyiv - The Washington Post

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Russia bombards Kyiv as fight over elections shatters political unity in Ukraine

Some political actors are warning that a vote during wartime, which would require changes to Ukraine’s constitution and other laws, could aid Russia by destabilizing the government and dividing society.

August 20, 2026 at 9:04 a.m. EDT

Today at 9:04 a.m. EDT

7 min

*Debris fills a courtyard after a Russian missile strike on Thursday in Kyiv. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images)*

By

David L. Stern

and

Anastacia Galouchka

KYIV — As Ukraine confronted a serious fissure in national unity — set off on Wednesday when the country’s popular former defense minister demanded wartime elections — Russia bombarded Kyiv with an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones overnight, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more.

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