On 25 October 2020, local elections will be held in Ukraine. However, in 18 communities in government-controlled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions elections will not be held. This document analyzes the reasons why the decision not to hold the elections in a number of settlements may have a negative impact on the development of democratic institutions in the region, the level of people’s trust in local and central government, as well as the prospects for reintegration of temporarily occupied territories. In particular, this summary speaks about a non-transparent procedure for deciding to cancel the elections, about non-systemic criteria for determining security threats, and about the lack of involvement of civil society. The recommendations resulting from this study are aimed at strengthening the civil component in local governments, applying a strategic approach to decentralization, and at reducing tensions between Donbas and Kyiv.