Rada extends martial law in Ukraine until 29 January 2027

What was adopted

On Monday, 26 October, Ukraine’s parliament voted for draft law No. 16182 “On the Approval of the Decree of the President of Ukraine ‘On the Extension of Martial Law in Ukraine’”. According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 293 MPs supported it.

The law takes effect on 31 October. Under its provisions, martial law in Ukraine is extended until 29 January 2027 – another 90 days.

On the same day President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted the two customary bills to parliament: one approving the extension of martial law and one approving the extension of general mobilisation. After the martial law vote, the next item on the Rada’s agenda was bill No. 16183 on extending the term of general mobilisation.

How the NSDC explained it

National Security and Defence Council Secretary Ihor Klymenko told the Rada before the vote that implementing the decree would help adopt adequate measures to counter armed aggression and to ensure Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said the decision also extends the powers granted to the relevant state authorities, military command, military administrations and local self-government bodies that are needed to repel the aggression.

What it means in practice

Martial law has been in force in Ukraine since 24 February 2022 and has been extended in 90-day steps ever since. For citizens this means the existing restrictions and procedures stay in place: military administrations keep working, some rights and freedoms remain subject to special rules, men of conscription age remain under travel restrictions, and the powers needed for defence continue.

The new extension does not change the logic of the regime; it only moves its end date. A separate decision on mobilisation determines whether general mobilisation continues over the same period.

Context

The vote came against the background of massive Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and cities. That morning Ukrenergo reported new power outages in six regions, while the Air Force reported an overnight attack with missiles and more than a hundred attack drones. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said there are no grounds to lift martial law while the full-scale aggression continues.

Why it matters

Extending martial law is the legal basis for the work of the army, military administrations and the whole defence system. Without it, part of the powers on which wartime governance rests would lapse. The large margin of the vote shows that the parliamentary consensus on this question remains intact.