The current legal framework empowers the Central Election Commission (CEC) to adopt a decision not to hold elections to local self-government bodies in certain territories in cases where it is established that it is impossible to ensure preparations and conduct of local elections in accordance with the law in those territories (Article 205(1) of the Election Code). The civil-military administrations are authorised to provide opinions to the CEC on the above-noted issue (Article 4(3) of the Law “on Civil-Military Administrations”). The applicable legislation does not include other provisions elaborating on the assessment and determination of the impossibility of holding local elections, such as established criteria and methodology, interagency collaboration, or public consultation. This leaves the process largely unregulated, subject to the discretion of the above-noted responsible bodies. In addition, it should be noted that under the current legal framework, the mechanism described above only applies to local elections, whereas national elections and referendums are not addressed. In cases where the CEC decides on the impossibility to hold local elections, the Law “On Civil-Military Administrations”,as amended in December 2020, provides for the establishment of civil-military administrations in those territorial communities. Those administrations are temporary state bodies set up by decision of the President of Ukraine.