Zelensky submits bills to extend martial law and mobilization for 90 days
President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted two bills to Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada on October 26 seeking another 90-day extension of martial law and general mobilization. If approved, the measures would run until January 29, 2027, marking their 21st consecutive extension since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Key points
- Bills No. 16183 and 16182 were registered in the Verkhovna Rada on October 26
- The proposals seek to extend martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days
- The current terms run until October 31, 2026
- Most sources give January 29, 2027 as the proposed end date
- The extension would be the 21st consecutive one since February 24, 2022
- Deputies were expected to vote during the plenary week
- The previous extension was approved on July 14
Why it matters
Parliamentary approval would extend the legal framework for martial law and general mobilization for another three months, beyond their scheduled expiration on October 31, 2026. The proposal would also continue a sequence of extensions that has lasted since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
What happened
President Zelensky submitted bills No. 16183 and 16182 to the Verkhovna Rada on October 26, proposing a 90-day continuation of martial law and general mobilization. The existing terms expire on October 31, with one source specifying 5:30 a.m. Most sources say the proposed extension would last until January 29, 2027, although some reports give January 28. If approved, the decision would represent the 21st consecutive extension since the measures were introduced on February 24, 2022.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the parliamentary procedure, the bill numbers, the proposed 90-day term and the expected vote during the plenary week. It also emphasizes that this would be the 21st consecutive extension since the full-scale invasion began and connects the proposal to Zelensky’s statement that martial law will not end before Ukraine receives effective security guarantees.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ over the proposed end date: most give January 29, 2027, while some specify January 28. They also describe the expected timing of the vote differently, as Sunday, October 26, during the plenary week, or more generally sometime that week.
Background
Martial law and general mobilization have been in effect in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, when Russia began its full-scale invasion. The Verkhovna Rada has generally reviewed and extended both measures every 90 days. The previous extension was approved on July 14, while the current terms are set to expire on October 31, 2026.