Ukraine Votes to Keep Wartime Rules Until Late January

Ukrainian lawmakers voted on Monday to extend martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days. The Verkhovna Rada approved the bills introduced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, keeping the wartime measures in place until January 29, 2027.

The vote on extending martial law passed with 293 votes in favor. The extension of general mobilization received 281 votes. Additionally, 280 members of parliament voted to have the bills signed immediately by the chamber chairman and sent to the president for his signature.

Under the current rules, martial law and mobilization were set to expire at 5:30 a.m. on October 31, 2026. Zelenskyy proposed the new 90-day period to ensure continuity without a gap in legal enforcement.

In December 2025, Zelenskyy stated that the war with Russia would not end until Ukraine secured effective guarantees. He argued that lifting martial law during a temporary ceasefire would leave the country vulnerable to renewed aggression. "Martial law will be lifted at the moment when Ukraine has security guarantees," he said.

Martial law and general mobilization have been in effect in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Previous parliamentary decisions had extended these measures from August 2 to October 31, 2026. The new vote maintains that timeline through late January.