Ukraine extends martial law and military mobilisation for 18th time
World
Ukraine’s parliament approves the 18th extension of martial law and military mobilisation, keeping elections on hold and President Zelensky in office.
KIEV/MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman) – Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has once again approved an extension of the country’s martial law and mandatory military mobilisation, marking the 18th consecutive prolongation of these emergency measures.
The extension will remain in effect from 3 February until 4 May.
According to live broadcasts of the parliamentary session, 333 members voted in favour of extending martial law, while 312 supported the continuation of mobilisation. Approval required only 226 votes, underlining the strong parliamentary consensus.
The documents now await the signatures of President Volodymyr Zelensky and Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk to come into force.
Martial law and nationwide conscription were first introduced in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Since then, the measures have been repeatedly renewed, preventing parliamentary, presidential, and local elections from taking place.
As a result, President Zelensky continues to hold office even though his constitutional term officially ended on 20 May 2024, maintaining control of the country under the ongoing emergency framework.
