Then I have "good" news for you: Ukraine is at war and so doesn't have to, and isn't even allowed to hold elections. Neither did UK during WW2, so it's not that uncommon.

"Scholars have stated that the Ukrainian constitution does not allow to hold national elections while martial law is in effect."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law_in_Ukraine

It’s also in the Russian constitution that Putin basically gets to be president for life. Guess that makes it okay…

A democratic institution making laws is very different than an undemocratic institution making laws.

Are you suggesting Ukraine wasn't democratic when that law was made?

And like stated somewhere else, UK did the same thing during WW2. So it's not that uncommon.

Do you believe that the current Ukrainian government is a democratic institution up to Western standards?

This is a nonsense statement.

Every poll performed on Ukrainians shows that a clear majority doesn't want elections right now, and Ukrainian law permits this during wartime. The logistical challenges are insurmountable particularly when one things about local elections. People are displaced all across the country and to other countries, soldiers that are fighting on the front lines cannot just rotate simply to be able to cast their votes without creating unnecessary chaos and risks, there's the legitimate threat of bomb attacks on polling places.

The UK didn't hold elections during WWII despite being vastly more secure on their island than Ukrainians are.

Some of us don’t believe in fair-weather democracy. If they can run a poll, they can run an election. Ukrainians have the right to decide their own future, don’t you think? Or perhaps some are afraid that they might vote “wrong”?

A 30 second conversation with any Ukrainian living in Ukraine right now would clear this confusion up for you. Not getting people needlessly killed is awfully high up on the priority list. If you think Russia is above bombing polling places, you'd be wrong.

The Ukrainian stamps in my passport suggest I’ve spent more than 30 seconds talking with them…

Your comment suggests this was some time ago, since traveling to Ukraine after the invasion doesn't seem to be something most people would do.

I have plenty of Ukrainian colleagues, both still in and outside of Ukraine. Opinions differ a lot. There is only this truth:

1. Ukraine is at war

2. Martial Law helps a country at war

It's logical that governments take decisions that some people don't like. Martial Law is there to take quick, hard and possibly unpopular decisions. Ukraine as a country is trying to survive right now. Their martial law doesn't even allow elections!

Call me crazy, but I believe the Ukrainians themselves should get to make the hard decisions involving their lives and future.

True, they are free to decide not to hold elections during martial law. Even the opposition doesn't want it.