Zelenskyy proposes extending martial law and mobilisation until August
This is evident from the draft legislation pages on the Verkhovna Rada website.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration, regarding the approval of decrees to extend martial law and general mobilisation in Ukraine.
According to the draft laws, it is proposed to extend martial law and mobilisation from 4 May 2026 for a further 90 days – until 2 August 2026.
If parliament supports these decisions, the Verkhovna Rada will vote to extend martial law and mobilisation for the 19th time.
The previous decrees of the President of Ukraine on martial law and mobilisation remain in force until 4 May 2026. That is why the new extension is set to cover the period up to 2 August.
Earlier, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported that the Verkhovna Rada would consider extending martial law and mobilisation next week. According to him, it was expected that on Monday, 27 April, the president would submit the relevant laws to parliament to approve the decrees.
“For another 90 days. This will be the 19th time the Rada has voted on these issues,” Zheleznyak noted.
According to the MP, the procedure will be standard. First, the President submits draft laws based on a decision by the National Security and Defence Council.
After that, both documents must be considered by the Verkhovna Rada’s specialised committee on defence and national security.
The bills will then be put to a vote in parliament. More than 226 votes are required for each to be adopted.
After the vote, the documents must be signed by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, and then by the President of Ukraine.
Zheleznyak clarified that the preliminary date for consideration was 28 April, but the vote could also take place on 29 April.
Prior to this, Zelenskyy emphasised that the war with Russia would not end until Ukraine received effective security guarantees. Until then, he said, it would be impossible to lift martial law.
Responding to a question about whether martial law could be lifted during a ceasefire, the President stated that it would only end once the war is over and security guarantees for Ukraine are in place.
“First and foremost, we all want the war to end, and then martial law will be lifted. And that is the only way. But martial law will be lifted only when security guarantees are in place for Ukraine. Without security guarantees, this war will not really end; we will not be able to recognise that it has ended, because there may be a risk of renewed aggression from such a neighbour,” said Zelenskyy.
General mobilisation continues in Ukraine. Should it be extended again after 4 May, alongside martial law, there may be specific proposals to update or amend the rules.
As noted, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is currently working on such proposals.
As reported by ThePublic, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated that since September 2024, over 1,150 criminal cases have been recorded in Ukraine concerning fictitious employment to obtain exemption from mobilisation. According to him, state-owned or municipal enterprises feature in almost half of these cases.
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