Rada Votes 293-0 to Keep Ukraine in War Mode Until January 2027
Parliament approved a 90-day extension of martial law and mobilization, citing the absence of final security guarantees from Russia.
By Andrew Bennett ·
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to keep Ukraine under strict war measures until the end of January has secured full parliamentary support, extending a regime that has governed daily life for nearly five years. The Verkhovna Rada approved the extension on Monday, 26 October, with no recorded opposition to the martial law bill.
A total of 293 MPs voted in favor of extending martial law, while 281 supported the parallel extension of general mobilization. The same day, 280 lawmakers approved a separate motion allowing the bill to be signed immediately by the parliamentary chairman. This procedural move sends the legislation directly to Zelenskyy for his final signature without the usual waiting period.
The current legal framework keeps martial law and mobilization in effect until 05:30 on 31 October 2026. The new 90-day extension shifts that expiration date to 29 January 2027. This vote marks the latest in a series of renewals that have kept these measures active continuously since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.
Zelenskyy has tied the duration of these restrictions to the outcome of the conflict. He argues that lifting them before the war ends on terms that guarantee Ukrainian security would leave the country vulnerable to renewed aggression. In December 2025, he stated that the war cannot be considered over until Kyiv receives effective security assurances.
The president has previously addressed the possibility of a ceasefire. He noted that while all parties want the fighting to stop, martial law will only be lifted when Ukraine holds those security guarantees. He emphasized that without such guarantees, the risk of future attacks from a neighboring state would remain too high to declare a true end to the war.
